Tulum Tourism Faces Cancellations and Business Closures Despite Recent Occupancy Spike

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Despite recent hotel occupancy rates exceeding 80%, Tulum’s tourism sector continues to face significant challenges, with cancellations and business closures directly impacting workers and service providers.

Claudio Cortés Méndez, Tulum commissioner for the Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants (CROC), said international conflicts in the Middle East have started affecting tourism patterns, causing about 10% of hotel reservation cancellations in the Riviera Maya.

Impact on Workers and Service Providers

The union representative noted that while occupancy has increased during certain periods, this hasn’t been enough to prevent hotel and business closures in the municipality.

He indicated this situation is already affecting workers, though he didn’t provide specific numbers on how many establishments have closed or how many jobs have been lost so far this year.

This scenario contrasts with the destination’s performance in previous years. Tourism sector data shows hotel occupancy dropped to 49.2% in 2025, down from previous levels above 66%, raising concerns among business owners and authorities.

Factors Affecting Tulum Tourism

During low seasons, occupancy rates have fallen to around 40%, with some central areas experiencing drops of up to 15%.

In practice, this slowdown has led to various adjustments within the sector, including hotels operating below capacity, reduced hiring, and businesses closing due to low demand.

The CROC confirmed these changes are directly impacting workers, who face a more uncertain employment environment despite signs of recovery during some holiday periods.

Adjustments and Partial Sector Recovery

Tulum’s tourism performance has been influenced by multiple factors, including increased visitor costs and the destination’s perception on social media, which have affected decisions by both domestic and international travelers.

While there are signs of recovery at certain times, the continued closure of establishments reflects that Tulum’s tourism sector is still undergoing an adjustment process and hasn’t achieved sustained stability that would guarantee full recovery.