Tulum Faces Tourism Decline With Empty Hotels, Reduced Flights

Tulum, Quintana Roo, is experiencing a significant downturn in tourism, marked by a sharp decline in hotel occupancy and a reduction in flight arrivals. In the last week of September 2025, the new Tulum International Airport received only 24 international flights and 38 domestic flights. This is significantly lower than anticipated following the airport's opening.

The airport offers service to 18 destinations, four domestic and 14 international, operated by 13 airlines. Despite this network, passenger traffic has fallen short of expectations.

The latest data from the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism indicates that hotel occupancy in Tulum dropped from 66.7% in September 2024 to 49.2% in September 2025, a decrease of 17.5% points. This decline is among the lowest recorded in recent years.

In response to the crisis, Tulum's municipal government is reviewing the causes of the tourism decline. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her administration is examining the factors contributing to the downturn and exploring measures to address the situation.

Despite the challenges, there is cautious optimism for the upcoming winter season. Hotel reservations for November and December 2025 are reported to be at 80% and 90% occupancy, respectively. Industry stakeholders hope that these bookings will help stabilize the local tourism economy.