Tulum, Quintana Roo — Hoteliers in the Mexican Caribbean have welcomed a new federal initiative to tackle the persistent sargassum problem, after years of spending millions of pesos of their own money on beach cleanup and mitigation.
The plan, announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum, involves the Mexican Navy, scientists, authorities, and the private sector in a coordinated effort to control the seaweed that has threatened the region’s tourism industry.
David Ortiz Mena, president of the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council and the Tulum Hotel Association, said the strategy marks a turning point. “Hotels invest large sums in cleaning. During sargassum season, a hotel can spend up to three times more on algae removal than on electricity,” he said.
Ortiz Mena noted that costs have become unsustainable, especially during low-occupancy periods and with an unfavorable exchange rate. Some hoteliers in Tulum are even considering seasonal operations to reduce losses from sargassum.
The situation has worsened in recent years, he said. Last year, Quintana Roo received five times more sargassum than the previous worst year, and this year the seaweed began arriving in late January. The season, which once ended in August or September, now can stretch until the end of the year. Ortiz Mena also linked increased sargassum to lower hotel occupancy rates.
The federal plan includes strengthening collection efforts, expanding the Navy’s role, installing new containment barriers, and establishing a permanent program with sufficient funding. A working group with authorities, scientists, and industry representatives will also be created.
Ortiz Mena stressed that the most effective approach is to intercept sargassum at sea rather than removing it from beaches. “We can clean our beaches, but stopping the algae at sea requires the participation of the Mexican state. That is the importance of the comprehensive plan announced by the president,” he said.
He also called for a national tourism promotion and crisis management strategy to counter negative images of sargassum-affected beaches. He noted that competitors like the Dominican Republic run campaigns showing favorable beach conditions, while Mexico often sees images of seaweed-covered shores. While recognizing the efforts of Quintana Roo’s Tourism Promotion Council, funded by the hotel occupancy tax, he urged the federal government to revive a national promotion scheme for the Mexico brand.
The private sector remains willing to collaborate and invest, Ortiz Mena said, but a shared responsibility between government and the tourism industry is essential to protect destinations, preserve jobs, and safeguard the beaches that are the region’s main draw.
