Tulum’s Hidden Food Crisis: Restaurants Shut Down

Tulum, Quintana Roo — The tourism crisis in Tulum has begun to impact rural communities. In Macario Gómez, one of the main towns along the Tulum–Cobá route, several large restaurants have shut their doors due to a sharp decline in visitors.

Jhoana Jiménez, an employee at a small local establishment, noted that the situation is particularly dire for larger businesses that relied almost entirely on tourism. "Yes, there are many places that have already closed, to be honest," she said. While family-owned businesses continue to operate, they do so with minimal margins, surviving primarily on local clientele.

A Community Left Off the Tourist Map

Macario Gómez, known for its artisanal and culinary offerings, has been excluded from heavily promoted tourist routes. This has led to a drastic drop in visitors, especially on weekdays. "There aren’t many tourists, but we’re getting by," Jiménez remarked, acknowledging that her family’s income barely covers wages and household expenses.

With each business closure, jobs and opportunities vanish, creating fractures in the community’s social fabric. In the absence of tourists and support strategies for these areas, small businesses are forced to operate with the bare minimum, leaving no room for growth or stability for workers.