Crisis in Tulum Leaves Hotels Empty in the Municipality
NewsDay Caribe toured the access entrance to the Mayan ruins, Jaguar Park, the hotel zone, and downtown Tulum, where it was evident that the poor tourist flow has “killed” the economic activity in the hotel area. For the first time since the pandemic, tour operators have been crossing their fingers to avoid going home empty-handed, due to the lack of desired tourist arrivals.
Just this October 6, 2025, the Playa del Carmen Harbor Master’s Office informed the maritime community that, as of 2:00 p.m., the port will be closed to navigation for vessels under 15 meters in length, and all nautical tourism activities will be suspended throughout the jurisdiction, from Punta Brava to Punta Allen.
In the area known as Punta Piedra, there were only four local workers resting while enjoying the sea breeze and observing a chocolate-colored sea, which was very choppy and affected by the sargassum.
Workers leave Tulum due to lack of employment
Eduardo Aguirre is a young man from Zacatecas who came to work in the Riviera Maya as a photographer, but a month ago he lost his job after staff cuts at the hotel where he worked.
He said that all his colleagues are worried that the season is too slow and that they have no way of making money.
Eduardo Aguirre indicated that one of his options is to return to his hometown because there are no more projects and the economy is not sustainable.
Is the destination overrated? He replied:
“Yes, because Tulum is very beautiful and has gorgeous locations, but many business owners take advantage of tourism. It doesn’t have the infrastructure that Playa del Carmen has to charge so much. Tourists get sick, there are no services, and everything is expensive.”
Eduardo Aguirre explained that, as a photographer, he can confirm that the wedding market isn’t picking up either, because prices in Tulum have risen, and couples don’t want to come because of the sargassum and insecurity.
“There’s a real estate crisis in Tulum, and people don’t want to invest anymore. Foreigners see that it’s not worth it. If they see that they won’t be able to finish building in the time they want, then there are many factors that sooner or later were going to happen,” he mentioned.
Less than five meters away was Sebastián Cruz Gómez, a bricklayer by trade, who took advantage of the cold front to catch some fish for food.
Sebastián Cruz Gómez said he’s from the municipality of Ocosingo, Chiapas, and that being able to reach the ocean and try fishing with a line is what has helped him sustain himself. He said he walks more than three kilometers to reach the beach and return to the downtown area, where he lives, as he hasn’t had a job for weeks.
The worker mentioned that during this period of “Tulum’s tourism upheaval,” he has benefited from the fact that he’s a single man with no one to depend on, but the situation is undoubtedly more than difficult due to the mounting debts.
Most of the restaurants, hotels, and boutiques in Tulum’s hotel zone were closed, with not a single soul wandering around the area, as very few foreign tourists were wandering the streets, which, years ago, were once crowded with people and motorists.
Darwin Eduardo said he works as a construction worker and hasn’t had a job for 15 days, which is surprising because that had never happened in Tulum.
“All the workers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, carpenters, are on the go; there’s no work,” he said.
Source: newsdaycaribe
