Tulum's coastal hotels see occupancy plunge below 20%

Hotel occupancy in Tulum's coastal zone has dropped below 20%. All-inclusive hotels are operating below 30% capacity, according to David Ortiz Mena, president of the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council and the Tulum Hotel Association.

The decline is not new. Ortiz Mena stated the destination's hotel sector has seen occupancy rates roughly 10 percentage points lower than the same period last year since May. This trend is expected to continue for the coming weeks. "We have sustained low occupancies since May," he explained. "We continue with these low occupancies, about 10 percentage points less than the previous year, and we are going to have these occupancies until October."

A Turning Point in November

The local tourism industry anticipates its next inflection point in November. That is when demand traditionally begins to strengthen ahead of the winter season. The sector hopes this seasonal shift will allow for a gradual recovery in both hotel occupancy and room rates.

Ortiz Mena believes the destination still has several weeks to address issues directly impacting the experience of international visitors. In this context, mobility has emerged as a primary concern.

Addressing Visitor Experience and Mobility

Improving transportation and offering greater price clarity for taxi services are important elements for receiving the high season in better condition. "We have to work a lot on improving the visitor experience so they have a good stay," Ortiz Mena affirmed.

Among the measures the sector considers necessary is having an official rate schedule for taxi service. Ortiz Mena noted that clearly established prices would offer greater certainty to travelers and help improve the destination's perception. "We have to reach the high season with rate schedules from our taxi driver friends, and I understand that advances are being made in that sense," he commented.

The Path to Recovery

Hoteliers expect the recovery of tourist markets in the coming months to partially compensate for the decreased activity recorded since spring. However, the challenge for Tulum is not limited to raising its occupancy percentages again.

For the sector, the high season also represents an opportunity to improve mobility conditions and visitor services. These factors will be decisive in maintaining the destination's international competitiveness ahead of the next winter period. Separately, REPORTUR.mx reported that after several months of massive sargassum seaweed washing ashore, Tulum's beaches are recovering their natural colors following a notable decrease in the macroalgae in recent days.