Day of the Dead to Revive Playa del Carmen Restaurants

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The restaurant sector in Playa del Carmen is navigating one of its most difficult periods of the year, marked by low tourist traffic that has affected hotels, restaurants, and businesses since April. However, the industry is expressing confidence that the Day of the Dead celebrations and the start of November will mark a turning point for economic recovery.

Roberto Lepe, president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (Canirac) in Playa del Carmen, acknowledged that the season has been particularly complicated but highlighted the resilience of the guild in the face of challenges stemming from low hotel occupancy and construction work on 10th Avenue North.

"We know it has been a complex stage, a difficult stage. We hope this Day of the Dead weekend gives us some relief. Many restaurateurs are taking advantage of the tourism slump to carry out remodeling and prepare for the upturn expected to start on November 2," he stated.

The leader explained that while there have been closures, such as that of "La Vicenta" or a Subway branch, there have also been openings that balance the landscape, like the recent inauguration of "Señor Godzilla." However, he warned that the lack of tourist flow directly affects local businesses, especially those that depend on the immediate spending of visitors.

Regarding strategies to reactivate consumption, Lepe announced that the "Playa Spice" culinary campaign has been extended for an additional two weeks to incentivize customer traffic and strengthen the destination's position as the culinary capital of the Mexican Caribbean.

"We need to generate traffic, create new ideas, and learn from what we have already done to improve the next editions," he said.

Separately, restaurateur César Navarro Medina, operational manager of Pez Vela, agreed that the economic situation has deteriorated across the entire Quintana Roo tourist corridor, with a sustained downturn since Easter.

"The destination has declined. Playa del Carmen and the entire Riviera Maya have stopped receiving a lot of tourism and income. This is now also reflected in municipal and state coffers. We have not seen the tourism secretaries come out to speak about the reality facing Quintana Roo families," he expressed.

Navarro called on all three levels of government to rethink the state's tourism strategy, asserting that promotion efforts must be more inclusive and not concentrated solely on large hotel complexes.

"There are small investors and hoteliers who also need support. Not everyone has the resources of the large chains to withstand five months of low occupancy," he emphasized.

The businessman noted that international tours to promote the destination are positive but insisted on the need to reinforce traditional markets like the United States and Canada, which have historically sustained the local economy.

"We must be more imaginative, rationalize spending, and do more for our state to remain relevant in international tourism," he pointed out.

Navarro confirmed that at least five restaurants in the downtown zone have closed in recent weeks, reflecting the impact of unemployment not only on the restaurant sector but also on shops, hotels, and small businesses.

Despite the adverse outlook, both Lepe and Navarro agreed that the upcoming winter season could mark the sector's recovery if promotion efforts are maintained and collaboration between business owners and authorities is reinforced.

"The challenge is great, but we are all here to work for tourism, not for political colors. If we manage to keep Playa del Carmen's essence and its quality service, the visitor will return," Navarro concluded.

With their sights set on November and December, local restaurateurs are betting on creativity, promotions, and improved gastronomic experiences to overcome the economic slump and prepare for the year's end.