Quintana Roo Tourism Crisis: ‘The Ship Is Sinking,’ Warns Eugenio Barbachano

Tulum, Quintana Roo — After confirming his affiliation with the National Action Party (PAN), Tulum city councilman Eugenio Barbachano Losa delivered a scathing assessment of Quintana Roo’s tourism and economic situation, describing it as catastrophic and calling for a “change of course.”

Flanked by PAN state leaders and party figures in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the businessman said the state’s economic sectors are deeply frustrated. He argued that Quintana Roo’s situation has gone from bad to critical to catastrophic, with no sign of improvement — just “happy numbers” that mask the true decline.

“The ship is sinking,” Barbachano said.

Air and Rail Connectivity Fall Short of Promises

Barbachano, a former municipal tourism director in Tulum, pointed to the state’s new international airport and the Maya Train as examples of infrastructure that has failed to deliver. He said the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum once handled around 40 international flights but now operates just three or four.

He said the frequencies announced for December, January and February would only be a temporary bump from the Canadian winter season, not a recovery of permanent routes. He also questioned the lack of direct flights from Europe to Tulum, noting that the Riviera Maya has 50,000 to 60,000 hotel rooms that cater largely to that market in winter.

The Maya Train, he said, is empty. “Nobody uses it.” He called it expensive, slow and impractical.

Lack of Tourism Promotion

The councilman said the reduction of funds for tourism promotion is another major problem. He said the Non-Resident Fee, which previously helped finance domestic tourism promotion, is now used for federal projects and “to subsidize losses.”

He also accused the government of driving away investment and creating unfair competition, citing the hotel associated with the Maya Train in Tulum. With more than 300 rooms, rates of 1,000 to 1,200 pesos per night, and occupancy of just 2 to 3 percent, the hotel is propped up by public subsidies, he said.

“Small and medium-sized hotels have to pay payroll, bank loans, taxes and other operating costs, which push their rates above the subsidized price,” Barbachano said.

All-Inclusive Model Hurts Local Economy

Barbachano said Quintana Roo’s tourism model has lost the appeal that once made it an international benchmark. He said destinations like Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum have been transformed in ways that reduce local economic benefits.

The growth of the all-inclusive model concentrates spending inside the resorts, he said. Visitors often buy packages covering flights, transport, lodging, food and entertainment, so they rarely leave the hotel. Any outside activity might be limited to a tour of Xcaret, Chichen Itza or Xel-Ha.

In contrast, the old model — when visitors walked around, shopped in local stores, ate at restaurants and explored town centers — distributed more wealth throughout the community, he said.

The tourism model is “clearly tired,” Barbachano said, and needs “reengineering and restructuring.”

Stalled Construction and Worker Exodus

The councilman cited figures showing about 70 percent of construction projects are stalled. He said construction workers are leaving Quintana Roo in droves.

“The state was the mecca of construction, growth and development,” he said. “Now it is in a negative vortex.”

He warned that the deterioration extends beyond tourism into employment, services, security and health, and is reflected in people’s daily lives.

Dominican Republic Capitalizes on Quintana Roo’s Stumbles

Barbachano identified the Dominican Republic as a competitor taking advantage of Quintana Roo’s weaknesses. Despite facing the same sargassum problem, the Dominican Republic’s tourism has grown 11 percent while Quintana Roo stagnates.

“Our competitors are watching all the mistakes we’re making; they’re laughing, but more than that, they’re getting their act together to capitalize,” he lamented.

Mexico-U.S. Ties ‘Damaged’

Barbachano called the United States “Quintana Roo’s best friend, economically and tourism-wise.” He said the bilateral relationship is damaged and getting worse, even though U.S. visitors are the state’s main tourism market.

He proposed reconnecting with that market and addressing problems that affect the visitor experience, including the behavior of police and taxi drivers, extortion and taxes.

Tax Burden Undermines Competitiveness

The councilman said tax burdens and other travel costs have made the Mexican Caribbean less competitive. He again compared the situation to the Dominican Republic, saying it is now more expensive for tourists to visit Quintana Roo than it was two decades ago.

Barbachano’s Political Proposal

Barbachano said his goal is to build a broader political force composed of citizens and sectors that share his diagnosis of the state’s situation. He said the objective is to “open minds, open eyes, open hearts, and create an alternative capable of changing Quintana Roo’s path.”

He said his move to join PAN is not a personal project or a search for positions. He emphasized that he wants to be part of a larger opposition project and build a coalition of men and women.

“We need a collective project and a change of course,” he said, “because the ship is sinking.”