Quintana Roo Tourism Falls 7% as Cancún and Tulum Airports Lose 800,000 Visitors

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Passenger arrivals at the Cancún and Tulum airports fell 7% through September, amounting to roughly 800,000 fewer visitors than in the same period last year, according to Iliana Zuzuarregui, president of AFEET Quintana Roo, the state branch of the Association of Women Executives in Tourism Companies.

Zuzuarregui said the decline reflects a challenging environment for an industry that relies on air connectivity to sustain hotel occupancy and stay competitive internationally.

The drop in passenger traffic strikes the local economy directly, from hotels to ancillary services, and has raised concern among industry figures who see global pressures reshaping the region’s travel business.

Canada and Colombia Seen as Recovery Markets

Zuzuarregui pointed to markets still performing well that could help drive a recovery. Canada and Colombia have shown significant interest in traveling to the Mexican Caribbean, she said, opening the door to stronger promotional campaigns in both countries.

Diversifying promotion strategies and concentrating efforts on high-potential markets now rank as priorities for the sector. The challenge for officials and business owners will be preserving the destination’s competitiveness against factors including jet fuel costs and limited airline capacity.