Playa del Carmen's Tourism Struggles Amid Summer Sargassum Crisis
Playa del Carmen's tourism sector faced a challenging summer, with hotel occupancy plummeting to as low as 20% or 30% in some establishments. Liliana Bravo Mena, the outgoing president of AMEXME, attributed this slump to poor management of sargassum, a persistent issue affecting the destination's image.
Bravo Mena, who is stepping down from her role at the Mexican Association of Female Entrepreneurs, expressed her concerns about the low occupancy rates. She highlighted that the summer season was particularly difficult, with some hotels struggling to fill their rooms. The low season is now fully felt, and there are worries that Playa del Carmen's reputation as a sun-and-beach destination is being tarnished due to the ongoing sargassum problem.
Bravo Mena placed the blame squarely on the lack of comprehensive management of sargassum. She believes that better handling of this issue could have prevented the significant drop in tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy.
The outgoing AMEXME president's remarks underscore the urgent need for effective sargassum management strategies to restore Playa del Carmen's appeal as a tourist destination. With the low season now in full swing, addressing this challenge is crucial to prevent further damage to the local tourism industry.
