Tulum’s Tourist Crisis: Worst Season in 10 Years

Tulum, Mexico — Hotel occupancy rates in Tulum, both in the hotel zone and the city center, have fallen below levels recorded in recent years, marking a historic low for the destination. Jorge Portillo Mánica, a councilman in Tulum’s municipal government, expressed concern over the alarming decline, which he described as the worst tourist season in the past decade.

Record-Low Occupancy Amid Peak Season

Despite it being summer—typically a high season for tourism—occupancy rates hover around 30% in the hotel zone, 20% in surrounding areas, and just 15% in the city center. Portillo Mánica attributed the downturn to several factors, including restrictions preventing both domestic and international visitors from accessing beaches.

"In the last decade, this is the worst season we’ve had—the worst tourist season by far. We’re at very, very low levels," he said. "The primary issue is the unprecedented sargassum influx, the worst I can recall in all my years in Quintana Roo."

Sargassum Crisis and Economic Fallout

The councilman noted that hotel occupancy has remained below 50% since the beginning of the year, with the city center suffering the most severe impact. Even short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb are largely vacant.

Portillo Mánica emphasized that overcoming this crisis will require stabilizing the destination through better tourism policies, competitive pricing, and improved offerings. "Prices won’t be slashed, but they also shouldn’t be inflated as they were before," he said. "This situation has also forced authorities to reconsider overdevelopment and the oversupply of vacation rentals."

Challenges Ahead

The two main challenges currently facing Tulum, according to Portillo Mánica, are the sargassum problem and restricted beach access. He expressed hope that once these issues are addressed, the destination can recover and regain its appeal to visitors.

The councilman’s remarks underscore the urgent need for solutions to revive Tulum’s struggling tourism industry, which has been a cornerstone of the local economy.