Riviera Maya Restaurants Face 25% Staff Shortage Amid Tourism Recovery

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Restaurants across the Riviera Maya are grappling with a severe staff shortage, with some establishments missing up to 25% of their workforce, posing a major challenge to the region’s tourism recovery.

Maru Moreno, vice president of Skål México, an organization representing tourism industry leaders including hotels and restaurants in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras, reported the staffing crisis. She noted that despite high occupancy during the recent Easter holiday season, the lack of workers continues to significantly impact restaurants.

“Restaurants are full today, but they’re crying because there’s no staff willing to work,” Moreno said. “It’s not about wages, but about skills and motivation.”

Moreno explained that the situation has led to high employee turnover, with many workers frequently changing jobs in search of better pay. “Since we’re short on people, there’s always someone offering more money, and that creates a lot of movement,” she added.

The problem is particularly acute in key positions like management, where employers need to offer competitive salaries while also finding candidates with specific experience and skills.

Some businesses have turned to hiring workers from other states, primarily from southern regions like Chiapas or even San Luis Potosí. However, growing job opportunities in those areas have made many workers prefer to stay closer to home.

Despite these challenges, Moreno highlighted clear signs of recovery in the tourism sector, with destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Aventuras seeing significant visitor numbers. She warned, however, that resolving the staffing shortage will be crucial for sustaining growth in the coming months.

In a separate development aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and sustainable development in the industry, several business and tourism organizations signed a collaboration agreement called “Mujeres Exitosas” (Successful Women). The agreement was signed by representatives from Skål México, Skål Isla Mujeres-Puerto Morelos, the Association of Vacation and Tourist Complexes (Acotur), the Mexican Caribbean Public Relations Association, the Mexican Association of Businesswomen (Amexme) Cancún, and the Women’s Association of Tourism Business Executives of the Mexican Republic (Afeet) Quintana Roo chapter.