Tulum's Tourism Crisis Deepens: Councilman Calls for Urgent Action

Local councilman Eugenio Barbachano Losa, a member of the Partido Acción Nacional, is sounding the alarm in Tulum. He says the tourism industry, which is the backbone of the municipality, is in a critical state, with significant job losses and a decline in air traffic.

According to Barbachano, 150 employees were laid off from a large supermarket in Tulum. Two international coffee chains have also closed down. Dozens of restaurants, hotels, and tourist complexes have permanently shut their doors. The situation is dire, with the councilman describing it as worse than the previous two years combined.

Beyond the local losses, seven airlines have exited Tulum's Felipe Carrillo Puerto airport. Three Canadian carriers will return on October 24, bringing the total to four. However, the airport's operator, Grupo Aeroportuario Mundo Maya, maintains that the airport is operating normally and that it will resume seasonal service with major airlines from October 24 to March.

The decline in air traffic is stark: between January and June, the airport moved 471,500 passengers, a 33.2% decrease from the same period in 2025. The terminal operator predicts a modest increase in the coming months, but the outlook is still uncertain.

For expats and digital nomads, the message is clear: the tourism industry is fragile, and its health directly impacts the local economy. If you're in Tulum, be prepared for potential disruptions and consider alternative activities to support the local community.