Tulum Hoteliers Seek Credit Restructuring as Low Season Hits Occupancy

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Hotel operators in Tulum and the Riviera Maya are exploring options to restructure their debts and adjust operations as low-season demand takes a toll on bookings, according to a report by El Economista.

Hotels along the coastal zone are reporting occupancy levels of just 15 to 20 percent, while all-inclusive properties are running at around 40 percent, the report found.

The drop in demand coincides with heavy operating expenses, including labor and utility costs, tax obligations and sargassum removal from beaches. For some properties, seaweed cleanup has exceeded 500,000 pesos a week, adding significant financial pressure.

Hotel owners also face growing competition from vacation rentals, which have become a firmly established alternative for visitors and present another challenge for the traditional hotel industry.

In response, some operators have begun approaching financial institutions to renegotiate loan terms. The goal is to reduce strain during the slower months and avoid major disruptions to their operations, while protecting jobs and keeping properties running through the downturn.

The sector expects conditions to improve during the second half of October, when visitor numbers typically begin rising ahead of the winter season.

For Tulum hoteliers, the immediate priority is getting through September and reaching the busier months in stronger financial shape — a period widely seen as critical to the destination’s tourism economy.