The Mexican Army spent over one million pesos (exactly 1,136,000 pesos) on a model of the Maya Train hotel in Tulum, a project not yet operating at full capacity. This expenditure, revealed through a transparency request by journalist Jorge García Orozco, has sparked controversy regarding the costs and management of resources allocated to the Maya Train megaproject.
The controversy gains significance as the Maya Train hotel in Tulum, inaugurated on September 7, 2024, struggles to attract enough tourists. Despite being the largest lodging in the Maya Train network, its occupancy rate during the initial weeks remained below 50%, with only 442 guests out of a total capacity of 996.
The low occupancy rate raises concerns about the project’s immediate profitability and questions the appropriateness of spending on a model when the actual infrastructure still faces operational challenges. The Tulum hotel is part of six establishments designed to enhance tourism along the Maya Train route, but similar lukewarm receptions have been observed in other locations like Chichén Itzá, Calakmul, and Edzná.
Despite the initial low demand, the government expects occupancy to increase progressively, driven by the Maya Train’s role as a tourism hub in southeastern Mexico. However, the lack of clear strategies to attract guests questions the planning and viability of the Maya Train hotels’ business model.
The Maya Train project has faced criticism for its costs, environmental impact, and execution. The revelation of the model’s expenditure reinforces perceptions of opaque resource management, especially when the infrastructure struggles to operate efficiently. The success of these hotels will largely depend on the consolidation of tourism in the region, an uncertain factor.
Overall, investment in tourism infrastructure involves risks and requires effective promotion and positioning strategies. The low occupancy at the Maya Train hotel in Tulum indicates that success relies not only on modern, well-equipped spaces but also on comprehensive planning to ensure sustainability over time.
The fundamental question remains: Was a million-pesos model necessary when the main challenge is to achieve the projected occupancy for the Maya Train hotel in Tulum?
Source: Soy Nomada
