Senator Defends Xcaret Amid Maya Cultural Symbols Lawsuit, Warns Against Deterring Investment

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Senator Eugenio Segura Vázquez has defended Grupo Xcaret, a tourism company facing a lawsuit over its use of Maya cultural symbols, arguing the firm generates jobs in Quintana Roo and supports indigenous communities.

“It’s not just economic retribution; they invite artisans to sell in their parks,” the federal legislator said during a public hearing organized by the Playa del Carmen municipal government in Puerto Aventuras on Saturday.

Segura, interviewed during a work tour, stated that Xcaret already provides support to the Gran Consejo Maya and other indigenous communities, though he acknowledged this relationship has not been sufficiently communicated.

He added that respect for cultural rights must be maintained without harming the state’s investment climate. “It should be done in the best way, so as not to deter investment,” he said.

The senator highlighted the company’s track record in Quintana Roo and its economic weight in the tourism sector. “I have great respect for businessman Miguel Quintana Pali; we have worked very seriously with them, in close coordination,” Segura noted.

Segura pointed out that protecting indigenous cultural heritage has been a priority of the so-called Fourth Transformation, referencing federal legislation that defines consultations, authorizations, and limits for using community symbols. He suggested the current conflict reflects a lack of coordination among involved parties.

However, the legal action initiated by Maya leaders before the National Copyright Institute relies on that same federal law protecting indigenous cultural heritage, which recently led to a Supreme Court ruling against Xcaret.

Internal controversy within the Gran Consejo Maya also persists, with dissenting sectors questioning transparency around a 15-million-peso agreement signed with the company after the lawsuit began, alleging benefits have not reached Maya communities.