Yucatán Hotels Face Low Occupancy; Tourism Secretary Hopes World Cup End Will Boost Sector

The tourism sector in Yucatán, Mexico, is facing a significant challenge with hotel occupancy rates dipping below 50 percent just before the peak summer vacation season. This downturn has left industry stakeholders worried about the economic impact on the region. Darío Flota Ocampo, the Secretary of Tourism Development, confirmed the low figures, highlighting a notable decrease in road-trip tourists.

According to Flota Ocampo, a primary reason for this decline is the prevailing perception of insecurity along Mexico's highways, which has deterred many potential visitors from traveling to the Yucatán Peninsula by car. Additionally, the ongoing FIFA World Cup has also played a role, albeit to a lesser extent, by causing some travelers to postpone their trips as they focus on following the tournament from their home locations.

Despite the current concerns, Flota Ocampo expressed confidence that the tourism outlook will improve significantly once the World Cup concludes. He anticipates that hotel occupancy rates will rebound to over 60 percent in late July and August. This expected recovery is attributed to the summer holiday period and the strengthening of air travel connectivity, including the reintroduction of a direct Mérida-Tijuana route operated by Volaris.