Progreso, Yucatan — Mexican fashion designer Sarah Bustani has ignited a social media firestorm after posting a video claiming that insecurity has driven customers away from restaurants in the port city of Progreso.
In the video, shared Saturday night on X (formerly Twitter), Bustani showed empty restaurant terraces along the Progreso boardwalk. “The truth is it’s sad. It’s the weekend and there’s no tourism. Who would want to come?” she said. “If you think you’re not scaring off tourists, you’re very wrong.”
Bustani added that waiters and restaurant employees told her they are forced to close early due to low customer numbers. She attributed the situation to insecurity, stating, “It’s scary to come.”
The post quickly went viral, drawing both support and criticism. Some users agreed that security concerns are affecting tourism, while others accused Bustani of exaggerating or harming the local economy.
Progreso, a popular cruise ship port and beach destination about 30 minutes north of Merida, has seen fluctuating tourist numbers in recent years. Local authorities have not yet responded to Bustani’s claims.
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