Mexico City — The Mexican federal government has launched “Operation Tulum,” also known as the Tulum Renace Plan, a 10-action strategy aimed at revitalizing tourism in one of the Mexican Caribbean’s premier destinations.
Led by the Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), the initiative focuses on reducing visitor costs, improving mobility, enhancing security, and leveraging recent infrastructure investments such as the Tulum International Airport and the Maya Train.
Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said the goal is to increase arrivals of both domestic and international tourists while improving the travel experience and the destination’s competitiveness against other Caribbean tourism hubs.
The 10 Actions of Operation Tulum
- Free entry to Jaguar Park for Mexican tourists.
- Electric transport connecting major attractions.
- Reduced entrance fees to the archaeological zone for national visitors.
- New access points and improved connectivity.
- Permanent national and international tourism promotion program.
- Professionalization and certification of service providers.
- Urban image improvement and destination ordering.
- Strengthened tourist security.
- Campaigns to diversify cultural, sports, and gastronomic offerings.
- Development of new tourism products and events to increase average visitor stay.
Sectur also announced work on an artisan and cultural corridor, as well as a nighttime lighting project for the archaeological zone, to expand the tourism offering and generate greater economic benefits for the local population.
Progress on Tulum Airport and Maya Train
Authorities view the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport and the Maya Train as key to consolidating the municipality’s tourism recovery. The airport, inaugurated in late 2023, has ground connections to Tulum city and the Tulum Airport station of the Maya Train, linking visitors to other destinations in Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chiapas.
As part of the strategy to boost occupancy during vacation seasons, promotional campaigns and temporary flight increases have been implemented, especially through Mexicana de Aviación.
The Maya Train continues to operate stations in Tulum and Tulum Airport, facilitating connections between the Riviera Maya, Cancún, Bacalar, Chetumal, and the rest of the southeastern railway circuit.
The federal government aims for this infrastructure to complement the tourism offering and enable multi-destination itineraries for visitors.
Why the Plan Was Launched
Sectur acknowledged that Tulum faces the challenge of regaining momentum after a decline in visitor numbers in recent periods. With Operation Tulum, the government seeks to make the destination more accessible, improve public services, and consolidate the infrastructure built in the region to attract domestic and international tourism once again.
