Tourist Numbers Plummet at Cobá Archaeological Site After Easter Holiday

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Tourism workers at the Cobá archaeological site are reporting a sharp decline in visitor numbers following the Easter holiday period, a drop that is already impacting the local economy.

William Cen, secretary of the union representing site workers, said tourist traffic during the holidays did not reach expected levels. He reported that visitor flow remained around 70% of the usual occupancy during the vacation period, but has since fallen further to between 20% and 30%.

“It wasn’t even very good during the holidays. It stayed more or less at 70%, but now it has dropped considerably; today we’re talking about 20 or 30% tourist occupancy,” the union representative said.

The reduction in tourist arrivals directly affects the income of guides, merchants, transport operators, and service providers working within and around the archaeological site. According to sector workers, economic activity in the area has been affected, complicating the stability of many families who depend on tourism for their livelihoods.

Facing this situation, the sector has sought alternatives to encourage visitors to return. One recent measure was the reopening of access to the Nohoch Mul pyramid, one of the site’s most representative structures, an action coordinated between municipal authorities and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) since last December. Although this decision generated a slight uptick, workers note that the flow remains far from levels recorded in previous years, when even outside peak season, visitor numbers remained between 60% and 70%.

Service providers believe several factors influence the drop in visitors, including perceptions of insecurity, increased costs of accommodation and tourist services in the region, and the international context affecting traveler mobility. Given this scenario, sector workers agree that it will be necessary to strengthen promotion of Cobá and attract travel agencies again to reactivate the economy at one of the most important archaeological sites in Tulum municipality.