Playa del Carmen Restaurants Struggle Amid Tourism Slump

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The restaurant sector in Playa del Carmen is grappling with an unusually difficult summer season, marked by low tourist numbers and an overwhelming influx of sargassum. The situation has forced some businesses along the iconic Quinta Avenida to temporarily close, unable to cover rent and payroll expenses.

A Struggling Industry

Manuel García Maldonado, director of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (Canirac) in Playa del Carmen, described the current tourism downturn as one of the worst in recent memory.

“It’s extremely difficult. Tourism is at rock bottom—practically nonexistent. You can see the lack of foot traffic even during peak summer days. The situation is dire,” García Maldonado said in an interview.

He explained that restaurants still operating are doing so under severe financial strain, with many struggling to meet fixed costs, particularly as rents are often paid in U.S. dollars.

“The restaurants you see open are fighting to cover payroll and rent. Others can’t even reach that point, forcing them to close temporarily until conditions improve,” he added.

Sargassum Worsens the Crisis

Excessive sargassum accumulation on local beaches has been a major deterrent for tourists, according to García Maldonado. Despite multiple meetings with the Ministry of Environment, no effective solution has been implemented to mitigate the problem.

“There’s no method, no budget sufficient to control this excessive sargassum influx,” he warned.

The negative publicity surrounding beach conditions has further discouraged potential visitors. García Maldonado acknowledged that while efforts have been made to work with local media to present a more favorable image, downplaying the severity of the issue could also backfire.

Economic Impact and Rising Costs

Data from the Riviera Maya Hotel Association reveals a sharp decline in visitors and a significant increase in operational costs for beach maintenance. Last year, hotels spent over $1.5 million on cleanup efforts alone.

García Maldonado emphasized that the sargassum problem is structural and requires federal intervention. He noted that jurisdiction over coastal areas is shared among multiple agencies, including concession holders, the Navy, the Ministry of Environment, and the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca), complicating coordinated action.

“The situation is very tangled. After ten years of dealing with this, we’re still searching for a solution. We’ve even been informed that a new sargassum mass has formed in the South Atlantic, in addition to the one near Cabo Verde off Brazil,” he said.

The phenomenon is exacerbated by global warming, as rising water temperatures kill marine plants, which are then carried by currents to Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Calls for Federal Action

García Maldonado urged the federal government to take responsibility for addressing the crisis in collaboration with state and municipal authorities. He stressed that solutions must be tailored to local conditions, as strategies effective in other areas, such as Puerto Morelos, may not work in Playa del Carmen.

“In Puerto Morelos, barriers work well, but here they don’t. We have two piers that create a bay. The situations are different,” he explained.

As the summer season progresses, Playa del Carmen’s restaurant industry faces an uncertain future, grappling with dwindling tourism and an environmental challenge that remains unresolved after a decade.