Tulum Merchants Urge Action on Growing Homeless Population in City Center

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Merchants in Tulum’s downtown are raising concerns about the growing number of people living on the streets, saying the issue affects the city’s image and requires a coordinated response that goes beyond simply removing them from public spaces.

Diego Castro, a restaurant owner, said some of the homeless individuals may have come from other municipalities in Quintana Roo, including Playa del Carmen and Cancún, though he acknowledged that no official information confirms their origins.

According to Castro, business owners and residents have reported that some homeless people behave in ways that bother those passing through the area. He said authorities should intervene with a strategy that addresses the various causes of homelessness.

Castro suggested the response should involve the Public Security Department, civil judges, the DIF family welfare agency and the local health department, arguing that the problem goes beyond security and requires social and health measures.

Manuel Rodríguez, a businessman from the city’s main square, linked the phenomenon to economic difficulties and job losses. He said the slowdown in construction, hotels and restaurants has reduced employment opportunities, especially for lower-income workers such as service and construction staff.

“There are many people on the streets losing their livelihood, because many construction projects are stalled and restaurants and hotels are closing,” Rodríguez said.

He called on authorities to strengthen social assistance programs and create mechanisms that help unemployed people find work, rather than focusing only on removing people from public areas.

Merchants agreed that the city government and relevant agencies need a coordinated strategy to assist homeless people, preserve coexistence in public spaces and maintain the conditions Tulum requires as a tourist destination.