Sargassum Crisis Costs Playa del Carmen Businesses 60%

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The massive influx of sargassum seaweed has led to losses of up to 60% for businesses in the city center, as tourists express disappointment upon encountering beaches overrun by the macroalgae. Andrea Lotito, Vice President of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association (AHRM), called for a concrete and effective plan to address the issue, which has resurged aggressively this year with large-scale seaweed arrivals in Quintana Roo’s key tourist destinations.

Economic Impact on Tourism Sector

The persistent sargassum accumulation, which began in April and intensified over the past two weeks, has reached levels not seen in over two years. Lotito emphasized the severe financial repercussions for local businesses, particularly hotels and restaurants.

“The city’s economy, including hotels and downtown restaurants, suffers an estimated 30% in losses due to tourist cancellations and negative feedback. For frontline tourism operators, losses can reach up to 60%,” Lotito stated.

Beaches near Playa del Carmen’s city center have been among the hardest hit. The situation has grown dire, with containment barriers struggling to hold back the seaweed.

Urgent Need for Mitigation Efforts

Lotito stressed the immediate need for intervention, urging authorities to deploy more seaweed-collecting vessels to prevent further shoreline contamination.

“Some central beaches urgently require sargassum removal before the seaweed overwhelms containment nets and reaches the sand. Past experience has shown that cleaning the beaches is costly and damages the environment,” he added.

The AHRM has proposed a solution through its The Sea We Love project, which aims to convert sargassum into bioproducts. However, until the initiative is fully operational, Lotito called for increased government support.

“While The Sea We Love—an AHRM program designed to mitigate sargassum by repurposing it—is not yet active, we believe all levels of government should seize the opportunity to significantly expand sargassum-collecting fleets. This investment would generate revenue and jobs for the entire community,” he said.

The ongoing crisis underscores the need for coordinated efforts to protect Quintana Roo’s vital tourism industry from the escalating sargassum threat.