The drop in hotel occupancy is already affecting workers in the sector, as by the end of August, the Mexican Caribbean only reached an average of 61.8%. It is also expected that the low season will be worse, so some will dip into their savings to survive until November, when they hope to regain their jobs.
“I am dipping into my savings to cope with the low season. I am restricting some non-essential expenses and hope to make it to November,” Santiago Larrinaga told Por Esto.
He added that he was recently hired by a hotel where occupancy reached 90%, but now it is at 60%. He also expressed concern because he knows that employees with more seniority are being given early vacations so that the workforce will be at full capacity in December. “They haven’t told us yet if they will apply the so-called ‘solidarity days’, I hope not,” he told the same outlet.
However, it was not only the worst summer for workers due to low hotel occupancy, but also because “now tourists came with less money, they didn’t even leave tips,” said another worker in the sector.
The Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat, in its hotel occupancy report for the main destinations, reported that Costa Mujeres reached 69.8%, Tulum 67.8%, Cancún 63.9%, Riviera Maya 63.7%, Isla Mujeres 61.2%, Puerto Morelos 51.2%, Cozumel 43.1%, and Costa Maya 39%.
As reported by REPORTUR.mx, the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat (Sedetur) announced that in the first half of 2024, the composition of tourism by origin shows that the United States continues to be the main source of tourists, with a notable 39.10% of the total. Mexico remains the second, representing 31.70%. Canada occupies the third place with 11.40%. The following places are the United Kingdom with 2.10%; France with 1.30%; Colombia with 1.50%; Argentina with 1.30%. Spain contributes 0.90% of travelers and Germany 0.80%, the same as Chile. The remaining markets account for 9.10%. (Concern in Cancún and Riviera Maya: occupancy does not reach 65%).
Source: Reportur
