Playa del Carmen Courts French Tourists With Experiences Beyond All-Inclusive Resorts

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Playa del Carmen is courting French travelers by promoting experiences that go beyond the traditional all-inclusive resort model, following more than 40 meetings with tour operators at the Top Resa 2026 fair in France, municipal Tourism Secretary Fabiana Briceño said.

Briceño called the destination’s participation in the trade event productive, saying the pitch focused on showing that Playa del Carmen offers alternatives beyond sun and sand. Officials presented operators with information on activities, tours and tourism products available in the municipality.

European Travelers Want to Leave the Resort

Briceño said the European market, and the French market in particular, is eager to leave its hotels and explore different experiences while on vacation. She said that trend gives the destination a chance to spread visitor spending across a wider range of tourism service providers.

Among the offerings promoted were routes and experiences that let visitors tour the destination, along with diving — an activity Briceño said draws strong interest from European travelers. The aim is to use Playa del Carmen’s location in the Riviera Maya to expand the options available to visitors during their stay.

After the more than 40 meetings held in France, the municipal Tourism Department expects the agreements and contacts made with operators to translate into more French arrivals. Briceño said results will show as operators begin to incorporate and market the experiences presented at the fair.