Comedian Sofía Niño de Rivera expressed her frustration with a situation she experienced in several locations in Cancún: being served directly in English without being spoken to in Spanish, despite being in Mexico.
In a video, the actress recounted that this experience was repeated in places like the airport and some hotels, where staff assumed from the outset that she was a foreigner. For her, this type of treatment reflects a practice that relegates the local language and Mexican visitors to a secondary status.
Niño de Rivera considered this custom inconsiderate and even disrespectful, since at no point—as she explained—was she given the option of starting the conversation in Spanish. From her perspective, the correct approach in a Mexican destination would be for initial service to be provided in Spanish, and only later, if the situation requires it, to switch to another language.
Another point she criticized was that in some establishments, prices were quoted in dollars, which also caused her dissatisfaction. The comedian questioned why, in their own country, Mexicans have to adapt to a foreign currency to receive basic information about services or purchases.
With a direct message, Sofía insisted that the country’s language should be the primary reference point in any interaction. In her opinion, those visiting Mexico from abroad can ask for assistance in switching languages if needed, but it shouldn’t be assumed that English should be the dominant language from the outset.
Her comment reopened the conversation about how some tourist destinations in the country prioritize international visitors, even when this can make Mexicans feel displaced within their own territory.
Source: hazaba
