Tulum Promotes Beach Yoga as Tourism Slump Shuts Hotels and Shops

Tulum, Quintana Roo — The municipal government of Tulum is promoting yoga and sport on the beach while hotels, shops and service providers endure one of the destination’s toughest tourism seasons in years.

The administration of Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo held a yoga session at Playa Conchitas with support from the gym chain Smart Fit. The mayor did not attend. Juan Buchanan, director of the Federal Maritime Land Zone (Zofemat), was present and acknowledged that Tulum has had a complicated year and that prospects for the next one are not encouraging either.

Buchanan said the goal is to encourage residents to make use of the beaches through sports and relaxation activities, taking advantage of a lull in the sargassum seaweed that washes ashore.

Hotel occupancy at 58.3 percent

Figures from the Quintana Roo Tourism Department show hotel occupancy of just 58.3 percent between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6, while vacation rentals reached 46 percent. In September, five hotels reported temporary closures, and some properties along the coastal strip recorded occupancy below 20 percent.

The downturn is also visible on Avenida Tulum, where two Subway branches and a bank branch have closed recently. Commercial property owners have resorted to offering discounts of up to 50 percent on rent to keep more businesses from shutting their doors, and airlines have scaled back operations at the international airport.

Buchanan said the difficulties could stretch into 2027, particularly because of sargassum, though he said the beaches are currently in better condition and are cleaned daily.

The contrast has renewed questions about the municipal government’s priorities. While merchants struggle to keep their businesses afloat, workers depend on a tourism recovery that has yet to take hold, and airlines trim their schedules, City Hall is organizing yoga sessions, sporting events and seaside relaxation activities. Buchanan defended the programs as a way to bring residents back to the beaches and make better use of them, but officials have not explained how the events fit into an economic strategy to attract visitors, strengthen businesses and protect jobs.