Xel-Há Cuts Days Amid Tourist Slump
Xcaret has reduced the operating schedule of its Xel-Há park in Quintana Roo to six days a week, reportedly leading to adjusted work schedules for staff.
Xel-Há park in Quintana Roo is now closed on Tuesdays. This reduction to a six-day operating week is linked to a downturn in tourist activity in the region.
Public company information shows Xel-Há now receives visitors on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The park is closed every Tuesday. The exact start date and planned duration of this new schedule have not been publicly announced.
Reported Impact on Staff
Reporte Índigo states the schedule change has led to adjusted work weeks for employees. The outlet reports that workers at Xel-Há would be resting two days per week, with one of those days being unpaid. Xcaret has not issued an official communication to confirm these labor implications.
"The reduction to six days of operation at Xel-Há can be corroborated with company information, while its causes and possible labor repercussions remain without official confirmation," the media outlet noted. The causes and full details of the staff schedule adjustments are not officially confirmed.
Broader Context and Future Projects
The reported tourist slowdown occurs as Xcaret moves forward with a major development plan for its flagship park. Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) recently approved the company's request to carry out construction work within the park.
This approved project is slated for construction over the next ten years. Following construction, it would be permitted to operate for a period of seven years. However, the federal agency attached a significant condition to its approval.
Semarnat has advised Xcaret that it must consult with Mayan communities. These communities must also approve the project before it can proceed. "The rights of peoples and communities must be safeguarded through consultation for the execution of works and/or activities on lands or territories that may be affected," Semarnat stated at the time. The requirement highlights the need for indigenous consultation on developments affecting their territories.
The situation presents a contrast between current operational challenges and long-term expansion ambitions. While one park adjusts to fewer visitors, the parent company is planning a decade-long construction project at its main site, pending community approval.
