What should be the consolidation of Puerto Escondido as the star destination on the Oaxacan coast is being overshadowed by a growing wave of complaints. Tourists and visitors are reporting an alarming phenomenon of high prices, low-quality services, and outright abuses by lodging and food service providers.
The community and frequent travelers have begun issuing a clear warning to the authorities: if the situation is not regulated, Puerto Escondido could follow in the footsteps of Tulum, a destination that in recent years has faced severe criticism for gentrification, excessive costs, and a decline in the warmth of its service.
The price increases are not limited to hotels; the food scene and basic services are also showing a rise in prices that does not correspond to the quality offered, generating a feeling of vulnerability among consumers.
A recent case exemplifies the tension in the destination, as a group of tourists reported being treated rudely at a local hotel after having booked in advance for January 1st.
According to the tourists, upon arriving at the hotel to check in, the manager denied them access to their rooms, claiming they had parked in front of the property to unload their luggage. “They told us to complain to whomever we wanted, to SECTUR or PROFECO, that they didn’t care,” the tourists recounted.
In addition to the arbitrary cancellation, the tourists stated that the management withheld 500 pesos from them under the heading of “wasted time,” without providing any receipt or legal justification, which constitutes a suspected act of extortion and breach of trust.
Given this situation, social media users and local chambers of commerce are urging the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) and the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (PROFECO) to increase surveillance in the area.
Source: primeralinea
