Tulum Businesses Warn of Closures and Visitor Drop Due to Jaguar Park Restrictions

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Tulum is facing a severe tourism crisis due to access and usage restrictions at its beach zone and the Jaguar Park, with local business owners warning of widespread closures and a dramatic drop in visitors.

Antonio Laviada, owner of the Pocná hotel, said increasingly restrictive measures under the current management program have drastically limited visitor numbers. He urged authorities to implement improvements at the park to revive the local economy.

“It’s very complicated. We didn’t have tourists during Holy Week, honestly,” Laviada said. He explained that the rules are too strict and that basic services are lacking for those who do manage to enter.

According to a count conducted last Sunday, only 300 people entered the park, compared to the usual 10,000 to 12,000 daily visitors in normal seasons. Laviada said the strategy of free admission has not worked and has instead deepened economic losses for the sector.

The situation has already forced several businesses to close, including large hotels, while some entrepreneurs have opted to move to other destinations in Quintana Roo in search of better conditions.

In response, the hotel sector has called on federal environmental authorities to review the regulations and design solutions to restore tourist flow in Tulum.