Faced with a marked decline in hotel occupancy and the constant growth of informal lodging options, the Yucatán hotel sector called on authorities to intensify the regulation of homes operating as accommodations through digital platforms like Airbnb. They argue that the lack of oversight allows for unfair competition and negatively impacts the performance of the formal hotel sector.
In this regard, the Yucatán Tourism Business Council (Cetur) welcomed the Mérida City Council’s proposal to regulate this type of lodging in the city, but warned that the measure will be insufficient if it is not replicated in other municipalities in the state with a tourism focus.
According to the business organization, approximately 6,500 properties operate in Mérida under short-term rental schemes, without an official registry to determine how many properties are participating, how many rooms are offered, or their actual occupancy levels. This complicates tourism planning and the application of equitable regulations.
They noted that this situation is also occurring along the Yucatán coast. In destinations like Progreso, Chicxulub, Chelem, and El Cuyo alone, digital vacation rental platforms list more than 1,800 properties, many of which do not comply with the same tax and regulatory obligations as hotels, creating unfair competition and difficulties in oversight.
The president of Cetur, Jordy Abraham Martínez, pointed out that cities with high tourist pressure are already implementing control measures, such as Barcelona, which limits new permits; Madrid, which requires visible licenses for guests; and New York, which restricts short-term rentals and requires owners to reside in the properties.
The business sector’s call comes as the Mexican Hotel Association in Yucatán (AMHY) reported that the hotel sector closed 2025 with an average occupancy rate of 55 percent, representing a five-percentage-point drop compared to the previous year.
Given this situation, Cetur announced it will work with municipal and state authorities to promote mandatory registration of properties offered on digital platforms and ensure they comply with current tourism legislation.
Déborah Angulo Villanueva, a hotelier in the southern Mexican Caribbean, recently stated that with the growth of vacation rentals like Airbnb, hotels are on high alert, as they urgently need to improve their facilities and customer service.
Source: reportur
