Tulum Businesses Struggle as Tourism Drops Sharply

Tulum, Mexico — The tourism crisis in Tulum can no longer be concealed behind optimistic rhetoric or manipulated statistics. Business owners in the hotel and commercial sectors have raised their voices, condemning the neglect of state and federal authorities as occupancy rates plummet and tangible measures to attract visitors remain absent. The situation has reached a critical point, with one of the area’s most prominent entrepreneurs, Jorge Portilla Mánica, warning, “Tulum’s tourism engine is stalling, and no one seems willing to refuel it.”

A Paradise in Peril

For years, Tulum has been marketed as a luxury destination, a haven of spirituality and connection with nature. Yet behind this carefully crafted image lies an increasingly unsustainable reality: empty hotels, sparsely occupied restaurants, merchants struggling to survive day-to-day, and an urban center languishing from a lack of economic activity.

Portilla Mánica acknowledged the disparity, stating, “In Tulum, if you own a beachfront hotel, you’re fine. But there are many small hotels in the city center, Airbnb rentals, and visitors who come to enjoy themselves. However, without beach access, occupancy rates are inevitably declining.”

Restricted Access and Overregulation

Business leaders argue that the issue extends beyond dwindling tourist numbers. They cite the closure of public beach access points and stringent protections for the Jaguar National Park, which severely limit new tourism projects and restrict the use of spaces that could revitalize the local economy.

Portilla Mánica emphasized the need for collaboration, urging, “The business sector—hoteliers, merchants, everyone—is calling for the creation of working groups to bring these concerns to the governor. We need her to open doors at the federal level so we can explore options within the Jaguar National Park. We must open pathways to the sea not just for Tulum residents but for all tourists, both national and international.”

A Looming Collapse

The warning is clear: without improved beach access and clear strategies for promotion, investment, and regulatory flexibility, Tulum faces a tourism collapse that will impact not only major hotel chains but the entire local economy. Dozens of small hotels, family-run restaurants, artisans, and tour guides rely on a steady influx of visitors—a lifeline now jeopardized by poor administrative decisions, security concerns, and a lack of dialogue with those sustaining the municipality’s economy.

Meanwhile, neighboring destinations like Playa del Carmen and Bacalar continue to demonstrate stronger tourism activity. Tulum, once a top-ranked international destination, now struggles under mounting restrictions, bureaucratic oversights, and a municipal administration that has failed to implement effective recovery policies.

Portilla Mánica concluded, “I hope we can reach meaningful agreements to keep our tourism engine running.” His statement underscores that the time for analysis has passed—business owners now demand concrete actions, political will, and a strategy that balances environmental preservation with the livelihoods of thousands who depend on tourism.