Although the Tulum archaeological zone maintains a steady flow of visitors, the economic benefits are not reaching all sectors equally. Certified tour guides report a considerable decrease in their income this season, in contrast to the perception of stable activity at the destination.
According to Julio Villagómez, a representative of the guides’ association, guiding services are currently operating at only 40 to 50 percent of the capacity seen in previous years. He explained that while the site continues to receive tourists, fewer and fewer are opting for specialized tours, which has drastically reduced job opportunities for this profession.
The leader pointed out that this trend reflects a change in the visitor profile, with visitors now prioritizing faster and less expensive tours, often choosing to explore the site independently. This trend has partially displaced the role of guides, historically linked to the cultural interpretation of the archaeological heritage.
Among the factors influencing this scenario, Villagómez mentioned both global conditions and local problems. On the one hand, the international economic situation limits tourist spending; on the other, persistent issues at the destination affect its perception, such as the presence of sargassum seaweed, security concerns, and reports of high prices for tourist services.
Regarding the latter, he warned that complaints about opaque pricing practices for transportation and food continue to be registered, without a decisive response from the authorities. “This situation impacts the destination’s image and reduces the likelihood of positive recommendations from visitors,” he stated.
Despite this, Tulum continues to receive international tourism, mainly from Europe, with visitors from countries such as France and England. However, the representative of the tour guides believes that this influx does not guarantee stability if the structural problems facing the destination are not addressed.
According to the most recent satellite monitoring by the Sargassum Environmental Monitoring Network, 50% of the beaches affected by the macroalgae are located from Tulum to Mahahual.
Source: reportur
