Tulum’s Tourism Crisis: Locals Blame Corruption, Overpricing for Visitor Decline

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Businesses in Tulum are feeling the pinch as international tourism collapses, despite national figures showing a rise in visitors to Mexico. Locals say corruption, overpricing, and poor governance have driven tourists away.

“Police, waiters, overcharging, excessive sargassum, taxi drivers, shady deals, bad public servants, and a complacent population — the goose that laid the golden egg is gone,” said Rodolfo Loeza, a Tulum resident.

In April, Mexico’s Tourism Secretary reported that the country received 8 million international visitors in January 2026, an 8.5% increase from the previous year. However, destinations in the Mexican Caribbean, particularly Tulum, have not shared in that growth.

Data from the Quintana Roo Tourism Department and hotel industry reports show Tulum’s hotel occupancy rates fell by up to 17.5 percentage points last year, ranging between 49% and 66%. Business owners describe it as one of the worst years for the town, and conditions have not improved in 2026.

“The police and traffic officers themselves have scared away tourism, and Mayor Castañón has no authority — he’s a fraud and afraid of the Public Security director,” said another resident, José Luis.

Some industry insiders suggest Tulum is undergoing a “tourist adjustment” after years of rapid growth fueled by the opening of the Tulum International Airport and the Jaguar Park. But long-time residents disagree.

“Tourists left because the town kept ripping them off with exorbitant prices in all sectors: transport, lodging, food, and drink. Now they complain after milking the golden goose,” said Diego Liévano.

Pablo Z. attributed the decline to “the economic crisis in the US, inflation in Europe, and partial blockades in Asia, in addition to poor municipal management.”

Eduart Montejos added: “The real culprit is the government. They charge you for everything and haven’t regulated prices. In Playa del Carmen it’s the same: tourists have to pay for parking meters as soon as they arrive, and with all the tax hikes, everything is incredibly expensive. They’ve ruined the tourism industry; they thought tourists would put up with the abuse forever.”

However, the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council argues that destinations that preserve their value will survive. David Ortiz Mena, the council’s president, said during a panel in Mexico City on Friday: “The most successful destinations of the future will not necessarily be those that grow the most, but those that best preserve their value, identity, and environment.”

Ortiz Mena, who also represents Tulum’s hotel sector, noted that Tulum built its identity on nature, wellness, authenticity, and environmental connection. “Tourist destinations don’t just compete on infrastructure. They also compete on identity. The real risk for a destination is not just growing too much — it’s losing what made it special.”

Longtime resident Pedro S. lamented: “Tulum is no more. I’ve been here 23 years, watched it grow and then fall so badly. It’s sad that we let Tulum die. Now everything is ruined, we’ve all destroyed it. Now we have to eat beans and be content with little.”

Ortiz Mena concluded: “No marketing campaign can replace a well-managed territory.”