Cancún Hoteliers Blame Government for Tourism Crisis
A tourism leader in Cancún blames federal policies for a downturn, while ITA Airways confirms a new direct flight from Rome to Caracas starting in 2027.
Two distinct developments affect travel to Latin American destinations this week. In Mexico, a hotel association president has publicly blamed the federal government for a deepening tourism crisis in Cancún. Separately, Italy's national carrier has finalized plans to launch a direct air connection between Rome and Caracas, Venezuela, restoring a route absent for over a decade.
Cancún's Competitive Challenges
Abelardo Vara Rivera, president of Grupo Cancún, has blamed the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum for a severe tourism crisis in the Mexican Caribbean. He cited five specific government actions he claims have driven down the industry: mandated wage increases, a reduced 40-hour work week, the cancellation of federal tourism promotion, the allowance of digital lodging platforms, and tax hikes ultimately passed to tourists. Vara Rivera stated, "Al final del día, son los gobiernos quienes han contribuido a que la industria turística esté por los suelos," meaning governments have contributed to the industry being on the floor.
Hotels have been forced to slash rates and even give away tours to maintain occupancy, with little hope for strong price recovery in the future. Vara Rivera lamented that Cancún has shifted from a selective to a mass-market destination where visitors aggressively seek value. He also expressed frustration that the lodging tax is no longer allocated directly to promotion, as originally intended. Rodrigo de la Peña, president of the Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, separately warned that a planned increase to the Non-Resident Fee could lead to a historic drop in occupancy across Quintana Roo's 12 destinations, making them vulnerable to international beach competition.
New Rome to Caracas Flights
ITA Airways will begin direct flights between Rome's Fiumicino Airport and Caracas's Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía on March 30, 2027. The airline will operate the route three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays using Airbus A330-900 aircraft. The launch, initially planned for late 2026, was postponed due to damage at Maiquetía airport caused by earthquakes in June.
The route was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart and Venezuela's ambassador to Italy, María Elena Uzzo Giannattasio. The service restores a market left vacant since Alitalia ceased operations in 2015. In the competitive Europe-to-Caracas market, ITA Airways will face existing carriers including Air Europa, Iberia, Plus Ultra, and Laser. The airline is betting on connectivity through its Rome hub and demand from the Italian community and its descendants in Venezuela.
