Payment Failures and Staff Shortages Paralyze Access to the Tulum Archaeological Zone

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Long lines of tourists formed at the main entrance to the Tulum archaeological zone on Thursday, as too few staff were on hand to collect fees for the electric cart service and the payment system malfunctioned, causing delays and crowding at the access point.

Tourism service providers called for better treatment of visitors, noting that the number of travelers is rising and that operating infrastructure must keep pace with demand at one of the destination’s flagship attractions.

According to tour guides, the ticket office at the Parque del Jaguar, located at the access checkpoint, remains closed. Only one window is open, staffed by a single person, which is insufficient for the volume of visitors.

The slow fee collection is compounded by bag and belongings checks, a process that also hinders entry because, according to the service providers, one person alone inspects the items tourists carry.

Operators Call for More Staff and Working Systems

Workers in the sector said that while for months they pushed to increase arrivals at the Tulum archaeological zone, the growing influx now requires sufficient staffing and efficient procedures to prevent long waits.

They also said ticket offices and inspection points need to be reinforced and the payment system must be guaranteed to work, so that access can be sped up for both Mexican and foreign tourists.

The providers insisted on the need to improve organization and service capacity. No official information has been released about the causes of the main ticket office’s closure, the payment system failures, or the steps planned to resolve the situation.