Riviera Maya Businesses Feel the Pinch as Summer Tourism Drops 15-20%

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Riviera Maya’s business community is weathering a difficult season as tourism activity slips, straining finances across the region and pushing some already-ailing businesses to close, according to Coparmex Riviera Maya, the local chapter of Mexico’s national employers’ federation.

Carlos Marín Morales, the group’s president, estimated that summer tourism fell between 15 and 20 percent compared with the same period last year — a decline he called worrying, since those months are traditionally among the busiest for the sector.

Sargassum and Costlier Flights

Marín Morales attributed the weak season to several factors, including heavy accumulations of sargassum seaweed and rising oil prices that drove up airfares and, in turn, discouraged visitors from traveling.

He said the situation is made worse by the fact that September and October — the slowest months of the year — follow immediately after summer tourism peaks. That leaves businesses with little room to maneuver, since many rely on high-season revenue to carry them through the low season.

“Business owners are accustomed to saving through the summer to get through the winter,” he said, noting that this year’s weaker activity left some companies with fewer resources to face the lean months ahead.

Closures and Calls for Support

Marín Morales acknowledged that he does not have an exact count of how many establishments have shut down, but he maintained that the drop in visitors has hurt businesses and that some that were already struggling have been forced to close their doors.

He argued that companies need to pursue alternatives such as loans, financing and other support mechanisms, while also developing strategies to improve efficiency and respond better to periods of crisis. In that vein, he highlighted Coparmex’s work through its innovation and business development commission, saying firms must find new ways of operating to cut costs and stay afloat when demand falls.

The business leader also urged municipal governments in the region to maintain support for companies during the slowdown. He said fees for permits and licenses, inspections and fines can place a significant burden on establishments already facing financial trouble.

Still, he acknowledged that the governments of Tulum and Playa del Carmen have shown openness by offering discounts and some flexibility on those procedures, which he said helps create better conditions for businesses.

Hopes Pinned on Winter

The sector is now looking ahead to the winter season, especially from November onward, when it expects visitor numbers and economic activity to recover.

Marín Morales said his conversations with hotel industry figures have generated positive expectations, with some business owners and trade associations predicting a better season than last year’s.

Another reason for optimism is the Canadian market. Marín Morales said Mexico could benefit if Canadian travelers increasingly choose it over the United States amid ongoing trade tensions between Ottawa and Washington. He also expressed hope that the U.S. market will rebound during the winter and help recover some of the activity lost in recent months.

Sargassum Investment

The business leader also addressed the roughly 2.6 billion pesos in announced investment to tackle the sargassum problem, saying it is important for the private sector to know how those funds will be spent.

He said regional companies can contribute knowledge and innovation, noting that some local firms have worked for years on alternatives for managing the seaweed.