Tulum Hotels Lay Off 100+ Workers as Occupancy Drops Post-Easter

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Between 160 and 180 employees at major hotels in Tulum have been notified of the termination of their employment following a decline in hotel occupancy after the Easter holiday season. The affected workers were employed at the Oasis hotel and a section of the Bahía Príncipe complex, both of which have begun remodeling projects to take advantage of the reduced tourist traffic.

Remodeling Projects Prompt Layoffs

According to union leaders in the municipality, the hotels dismissed temporary workers and liquidated some permanent staff as part of cost-cutting measures. The current occupancy rates in Tulum’s coastal area have plummeted to between 10% and 15%, a stark contrast to the 85% occupancy sustained in the Riviera Maya, driven primarily by domestic tourists from Yucatán, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City.

Union representatives stated that the layoffs were intended to minimize disruption to the workforce. "Those whose contracts have ended are being invited to return once the remodeling work is completed," one leader said. Discussions are ongoing with hotel operators to ensure the process adheres to labor rights and explores possibilities for rehiring affected employees later.

Broader Industry Adjustments Expected

Additional hotels in the region are anticipated to follow a similar strategy in the coming weeks, focusing on renovations of dining facilities, including specialty restaurants and main buffets. Business owners are using the low season to upgrade their properties ahead of the high winter season, which begins in mid-November.

Union leaders emphasized the vulnerability of tourism-dependent employment during off-peak periods and called for economic diversification in municipalities like Tulum, where the local economy relies heavily on visitor spending.

The situation underscores the challenges faced by workers in seasonal industries and highlights the need for long-term solutions to stabilize employment in Mexico’s key tourist destinations.