Sargassum Hurts Yucatán Tourism as Beaches Lose Visitors

Mérida, Yucatán — The influx of sargassum seaweed on the coasts of Quintana Roo has negatively impacted tourism in Yucatán, according to Jorge Carrillo Sáenz, president of the Yucatán Tourism Business Council (Cetur). Traditionally, road-tripping tourists heading to Yucatán have Quintana Roo’s beaches as their final destination. However, due to the large-scale arrival of sargassum in the Mexican Caribbean, many visitors have canceled their vacation plans along this route.

Carrillo Sáenz also reported that tourism in the first half of 2025 has seen a significant decline, reflected in lower hotel occupancy rates, reduced hotel prices, and an economic downturn in the local tourism industry.

“Little is said about the low economic rates in Yucatán’s hotels, the rising operational costs, and salary increases. The situation in Yucatán’s tourism sector is not easy this year,” the executive stated.

The second half of the year presents a new challenge for tourism businesses as they strive to meet their daily financial commitments.

Tourism Promotion for Yucatán

Carrillo Sáenz said Cetur is collaborating with the state’s tourism secretary, Darío Flota Ocampo, to implement promotional strategies targeting the national market, with a special focus on local tourism to encourage Yucatecans to visit the state’s many attractions.

“We think the campaign announcing seven tourist routes, presented by the head of Sefotur a few days ago, is a very good proposal to encourage Yucatecans to explore the state’s attractions,” Carrillo Sáenz said. “We continue working together to overcome the current economic challenges in the tourism industry.”

Regarding the early days of the summer vacation period, which runs from July to August, Carrillo reported mediocre to low results, directly attributed to the negative effects of sargassum inundating Quintana Roo’s beaches.

“One of the clearest negative effects on Yucatán during this vacation period is the sargassum washing up on Quintana Roo’s coasts,” he explained. “During summer vacations each year, national tourists—mostly families traveling by car from cities like Mexico City, Puebla, Veracruz, and other central states—head to beaches in Cancún, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, passing through Yucatán along the way. Traditionally, they stay overnight in Mérida, Valladolid, or another Yucatecan municipality, depending on their schedule. However, due to the sargassum problem, these visits have decreased. National tourists are no longer coming.”

Meanwhile, Juan José Martín Pacheco, president of the Mexican Hotel Association in Yucatán, stated that June’s statistics are still being finalized. Once complete, they will provide a full picture of the first half of the year, allowing for a more informed assessment of tourism activity.