Cancún, Quintana Roo — Vendors at Cancún’s outdoor markets, or tianguis, are reporting a 60% drop in sales during the summer vacation season, blaming both the exodus of residents and extreme heat that keeps shoppers away.
“Our business depends almost entirely on local families, so when a large portion of the population leaves for vacation or changes their buying habits, the impact is immediate,” said Aarón Gama, legal representative of the Union of Tianguis and Ambulant Merchants of Quintana Roo.
Unlike tourism-focused businesses, the tianguis rely on Cancún residents as their primary customer base. During the holiday period, many residents cut back on market visits or spend their budgets on travel-related expenses, Gama explained. Add to that the intense heat of recent weeks, which has driven shoppers to air-conditioned malls or their homes.
Despite the slowdown, vendors continue to operate normally, offering staples such as clothing, household items, fruits, vegetables, and prepared foods. They hope foot traffic will rebound once vacations end and schools and workplaces resume.
For food vendors, hygiene is a priority. Gama noted that all sellers handling food must have valid health documentation and follow sanitation regulations. Perishable items like fish, seafood, meat, and dairy are kept under proper refrigeration. The union conducts daily inspections, and federal health authorities, including the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), carry out periodic checks.
“So far, we’ve had no reports of food poisoning from market purchases, thanks to preventive measures by both vendors and health inspectors,” Gama said. He urged the public to support local merchants, noting that thousands of families depend on the tianguis economy, and recommended basic hygiene practices such as washing fruits and vegetables before consumption.
Gama expressed optimism that sales will improve in the coming weeks as residents return and the school year begins, traditionally a period of higher foot traffic for Cancún’s markets.
