Cancún, Quintana Roo — President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that the federal government will not approve Royal Caribbean’s “Perfect Day Mexico” megaproject in Mahahual if it threatens the region’s ecological balance, raising the possibility that the development could be relocated.
“We are not going to do anything that puts the ecosystem, the mangroves, and the reef at risk,” Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference. She said she has asked Environment Secretary Alicia Bárcena to conduct a thorough review of the project.
The president acknowledged legitimate protests and concerns about the potential environmental impact of the tourism development on the reef system and mangroves along the coast. She left open the possibility that the project could be moved to another location in the state if studies reveal significant environmental risks.
Perfect Day Mexico is a $1 billion water park and entertainment complex tied to cruise tourism, designed to receive up to 20,000 visitors daily. Environmental and community groups have warned of potential damage to the Mesoamerican Reef, mangroves, aquifers, and coastal ecosystems in Mahahual.
In recent days, organizations including Greenpeace have intensified protests against the development. The Environment Ministry confirmed that the project has not yet received final environmental authorization and remains under technical and scientific evaluation.
The controversy has also become a political issue in Quintana Roo, where environmental groups and opposition parties are using the megaproject to question its ecological and urban viability in Mahahual.
