The Association of Professional Vacation Rental Managers (APAR) released figures for the end of 2025 in Quintana Roo, showing an 8% decrease in market value.
Manuel Lozano, president of APAR, explained that while they generated approximately 686 million pesos in 2025 from their services, the previous year the figure reached 747 million.
The average occupancy rate also decreased, falling from 50.7% in 2024 to 47.6% in 2025, a drop of 3.1 percentage points.
Among the causes of the decline, he cited the oversupply of rental units and the regulations that municipal governments have begun to implement.
Cancun remains the largest market in the Mexican Caribbean with over 17,000 active properties. However, the oversupply of rental units has driven down rates in this sector, acknowledged Manuel Lozano.
Regarding Playa del Carmen, he commented that real estate investment and the development of vacation rental units continue, thanks to its connectivity, urban-resort lifestyle, and consistent demand from both domestic and international tourists.
However, in early 2026, the Playa del Carmen city council announced plans to implement mandatory short-term rental licenses, aiming to mitigate the impact on the residential market and prevent speculative bubbles in urban areas.
In the case of Tulum, he noted that it is undergoing a significant adjustment period, with occupancy levels falling below those of other destinations due to a combination of factors such as oversupply, infrastructure challenges, and changing traveler preferences toward more reliable experiences and standardized services.
“Although sustained growth was expected, market data reports some of the lowest occupancy rates in the state for vacation properties,” he stated at a press conference.
He added, however, that the high season at the end of 2025 showed signs of recovery, primarily in traditional hotels, with high occupancy projections, while the vacation rental segment continues to lag behind.
For 2026, he commented that a growth environment for national and international tourism is anticipated, coupled with global events such as the media impact of the 2026 World Cup, projecting an increase in demand for alternative lodging, benefiting established markets and new developments in Quintana Roo.
Source: eleconomista
