Riviera Maya Business Leaders Say Tourism Unaffected by Recent Violence

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Business leaders in the Riviera Maya do not expect tourism to suffer following recent violent incidents across Mexico and some isolated events in Quintana Roo.

The Riviera Maya Business Coordinating Council (CCE) addressed the tourism outlook, preliminary 2025 year-end results, and environmental strategies for 2026 during its monthly session, particularly focusing on the atypical arrival of sargassum seaweed recorded in December.

Council president José Ramón Cárdenas González said that while the national events were “dramatic,” they do not pose a risk to tourism in the state.

“We don’t believe there will be any impact on the destination. These were isolated incidents, and we have no cancellations. Hotels are safe, beaches are safe,” he stated.

The CCE Riviera Maya, which brings together business chambers and associations from the productive sector, held its monthly feedback meeting, where it planned to review 2025 tourism closing figures, especially hotel occupancy and airport traffic.

Although results from the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) will be analyzed in March, representatives from the Secretariat of Environment and Climate Change participated in this session to present the sargassum containment strategy.

Cárdenas González explained that the atypical arrival in December triggered early alerts, prompting the private sector to request direct information on this year’s containment plan.

“We want to know how they are implementing the strategies. Barrier installation has already begun, with about one kilometer placed, and the goal is to reach five kilometers,” he detailed.

Regarding alerts issued by the U.S. Embassy, Cárdenas González acknowledged they generate media noise but insisted there is no extraordinary situation endangering tourism.

The leader emphasized that coordination with public security authorities is ongoing and that the destination’s stability is a priority for the sector.

“We must stay vigilant and continue working hand in hand with authorities, but we see no real impact on tourist flow,” he noted.

The Riviera Maya remains one of the most important destinations in the Mexican Caribbean, with high occupancy levels during the winter season and strong presence from U.S., Canadian, and domestic markets.

The business sector maintains that perceptions of safety and the ability to respond to environmental phenomena like sargassum are key factors in keeping the destination competitive.

Meanwhile, expectations are that the first quarter of the year will confirm stable behavior in hotel occupancy and visitor arrivals.