Sargassum Influx Hits Visitor Numbers at Tulum’s Regional Museum

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Less than two years after opening, the Museo Regional de la Costa Oriental (Mureco) inside Tulum’s Jaguar Park has seen a decline in visitors, a drop its director attributes to massive sargassum arrivals on Mexican Caribbean beaches.

Director Carmen Gaitán Rojo said the museum received 83,700 visitors between January and August 2025, its first eight months of operation after opening to the public in January 2025. In contrast, from January to May 2026, the museum recorded 41,701 visitors, reflecting a decrease in foot traffic compared to the previous year.

Gaitán Rojo noted that the sargassum phenomenon has directly impacted tourism in the region, affecting cultural venues like the museum. “Obviously, the sargassum issue unfortunately contributes to a decline in tourism, but we continuously receive the spillover from tourists who come to the area, and this is a very blessed area,” she said.

Despite the challenges posed by the macroalgae, Gaitán Rojo emphasized that Tulum remains one of the main attractions in the Mexican Caribbean, drawing many visitors to the museum. “Despite all the problems with the sea, people continue to visit Tulum a lot, and from Tulum they come here. I am very grateful because the museum is always well-visited,” she stated.

Beyond its exhibits, Mureco has strengthened ties with the community through cultural and educational activities, including children’s workshops, conferences, film screenings, and special events. “We have enriched it with activities for children, conferences, films, and various offerings for the public. The community of Tulum now has an option that didn’t exist before. People are starting to come and feel that this is their own place, a place for the people of Tulum, that it is for them,” she concluded.