Cozumel Fights Fourth Cruise Pier Plan

COZUMEL, Mexico — A proposed fourth cruise ship pier for the island of Cozumel, championed by the company Muelles del Caribe S.A. de C.V., is facing significant and organized opposition from citizens and environmental advocates who argue the project is based on a fallacy and poses a grave threat to the island's ecosystem and economic well-being.

The company initially presented the project to local business leaders with optimistic projections. "They looked smiling and applauded each other; the business was sailing along smoothly," the report states. The promised benefits were familiar: "With this development we are going to bring jobs, wealth for the people of Cozumel—we are the answer to all the problems!"

However, that initial optimism has diminished, replaced by a growing wave of public dissent that has developed into a powerful opposition movement.

A Legacy of Unfulfilled Promises and Existing Problems

Critics point to Cozumel's existing challenges, which they argue have not been alleviated by the current cruise tourism model. The island faces severe issues including the devastation of its jungle and mangrove ecosystems, unchecked urban sprawl, and persistent poverty levels that have not decreased with the arrival of large ships.

Insecurity is reportedly increasing, with organized crime taking root in the port areas where the demand for drugs and human trafficking is said to proliferate. A critical problem is the island's water supply; drinking water is scarce, while contaminated waters overflow and spill into the manglares and the sea. A water treatment plant in San Miguelito is described as having "rotted waiting for the so-called development."

"The progress promised since the first pier never arrived," the article argues. "If what they say were true, the people of Cozumel would live in opulence, as you like to imagine Dubai is, and it is not like that. Wealth is not generated; it is exploited."

Economic and Environmental Concerns

Cozumel is presented as a global treasure, with a section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that remains notably healthy due to the island's characteristics, currents, temperature, and the protection offered by the Cozumel Reefs National Park. This natural beauty is cited as the island's true wealth.

Economic data is used to challenge the project's rationale. While cruise ship tourists represent 82 percent of the visitor volume to the island, they account for only 17 percent of its economic impact. The average cruise tourist spends approximately $41 USD. In contrast, overnight tourists represent just 18 percent of the volume but contribute 83 percent of the economic spending—a sum 22 times greater per person. Furthermore, destinations with high cruise traffic are noted to suffer in the quality and quantity of their overnight tourism.

Allegations of Deception and Intimidation

The opposition accuses the project's backers of dishonesty to obtain permits, alleging that the Environmental Impact Statement submitted was "not based on reality." A couple of dives by officials and a congruent expert inspection allegedly revealed the irrefutable reality of threatened mangroves, extensive seagrass meadows, a sea horse reproduction area, sponges that can be centuries or even millennia old, and protected species like the parrotfish thriving in the project zone.

The article claims that because the project lacks public support and a valid argument, its proponents have resorted to forcing campaigns, hiring supporters ("paleros"), legal maneuvers, deceit on social networks, mercenary publications, and plain intimidation. "They seek to take advantage of the neglect, the fear, and the scarce resources of the environmental authorities," it states.

A Call for Sustainable Alternatives

The piece calls for investment that provides integral progress for the island and its inhabitants, arguing that Cozumel will advance by protecting its natural resources and its citizens. It notes that local hotels already maintain a 15 percent vacancy rate they cannot fill, suggesting that formal jobs exist but workers need preparation to develop in them and guarantee a good quality of life.

The article cites a global trend of destinations restricting cruise ships, including Marseille, where the mayor said the sector "asphyxiates" the city with atmospheric pollution, as well as Amsterdam, Santorini, and Dubrovnik. It highlights Monterey Bay, California, which has effectively blocked cruise ships since before the COVID-19 pandemic by eliminating passenger disembarkation services. The city administrator's stated concern was to avoid "accidental spills in our pristine Monterey Bay."

The report concludes with a personal reflection on the need to preserve Cozumel's natural heritage for future generations, ending with the hashtags #NoalcuartoMuelle (No to the Fourth Pier) and #SialArrecife (Yes to the Reef). "No to exploitation, yes to life," it states.