Mar 26, 2026
Empty Rooms in Paradise as Tulum Struggles While Riviera Maya Hits Peak Occupancy
Despite record-breaking numbers across the Riviera Maya, Tulum’s hotel occupancy crisis deepens as union leaders warn of...
The Tulum Times Contributor
Sebastián Ortega
Business Correspondent
Sebastián Ortega is a business journalist and market analyst with a keen eye for the economic trends defining the Riviera Maya. Based in Tulum's burgeoning business district, he covers real estate developments, local entrepreneurship, and the region's transition into a year-round economic powerhouse.
Recent Work by Sebastián Ortega
Mar 23, 2026
Tulum Gets Its First Commercial Plaza as Centro Tulum Prepares to Open With 60 Stores and 900 Jobs
Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo confirmed that Centro Tulum, the municipality's first commercial plaza, will house 60 stores ...
Mar 22, 2026
Tulum airport recovery may depend on new three-year incentives
A Quintana Roo tourism official says Tulum airport’s flight pullback followed a lapse in airline incentives, even after ...
Mar 18, 2026
Artisan center vendors in Tulum report Sunday access restrictions at Jaguar Park
Merchants near Tulum’s archaeological zone say access agreements for Parque del Jaguar are not being applied, with Sunda...
Feb 7, 2026
Tourism sector urges action over police extortion in Tulum
...
Jan 28, 2026
Tulum Plans New Mixed-Use Center With First Local Movie Theater in 2026
...
Jan 19, 2026
Mexico Promotes Tourism Investment and Regulation at FITUR 2026
...
Jan 13, 2026
December 2025 marks weakest hotel performance in Tulum in four years
Tulum hotel occupancy fell to 75 percent in December 2025, the lowest level for that month in four years, capping a year...
Jan 9, 2026
Tulum Prepares for Consolidation as Visitor Profiles Shift in 2026
Tulum is expected to enter a phase of consolidation in 2026 as visitor profiles shift toward more price-sensitive and se...
Dec 19, 2025
Tulum hotel recovery surges into high season while rentals lag behind
Tulum hotel recovery is accelerating into high season, with occupancy nearing 90 percent, while vacation rentals struggl...
Dec 10, 2025
Tulum hotels report 75.5 percent occupancy as year-end nears
Tulum’s tourism season continues gaining momentum with 75.5 percent hotel occupancy and new public beach access, shaping...
Nov 29, 2025
Confusion over Diamante K inspection sparks debate among hoteliers
Roberto Palazuelos rejected Profeco’s claim that Diamante K was suspended, arguing only minor issues were found during t...
Nov 26, 2025
Hotel executive denounces local online attacks on Tulum
Hotel leader Jesús Almaguer criticizes local online campaigns he says exaggerate Tulum’s issues, raising questions about...
Nov 26, 2025
The suspension of Diamante K shows some hotels still ignore Tulum’s crisis
Profeco suspension of Diamante K highlights widespread pricing irregularities in Tulum, raising concerns over consumer r...
Nov 21, 2025
Tulum tourism recovery gains momentum as occupancy reaches 73 percent
Tulum tourism recovery accelerates as hotel occupancy reaches 73 percent, driven by new beach access, rising winter dema...
Nov 18, 2025
Tulum hotel occupancy climbs as new recovery plan advances
Tulum’s tourism rebound pushes the ocupación hotelera de Tulum to 75.8 percent as federal and local authorities launch a...
Nov 10, 2025
Tourism in Tulum rises after months of decline
Tourism in Tulum shows a modest rebound as free entry to the archaeological site draws more visitors, offering hope for ...
Nov 10, 2025
Tulum taxi rates set to rise under new fare system this November
Tulum taxi rates are set for overhaul as authorities introduce a digital fare system to improve transparency and reduce ...
Nov 9, 2025
Businesses in Tulum struggle to survive amid tourist drop
Tulum faces an economic recession as foreign visitor numbers fall sharply, forcing iconic businesses to close and haltin...
Nov 4, 2025
Cultural Festivities Lift Tulum’s Hotel Occupancy Above Expectations
Tulum hotels saw a 10–20% rise in occupancy during Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday, as cultural events and an extended ...
Nov 1, 2025
Tulum airport to regain international routes as Quintana Roo expands air links
Tulum will regain air routes this November as Quintana Roo launches a $3.2 million global campaign and plans new connect...
Oct 30, 2025
Día de Muertos Brings Color but Little Profit for Tulum Flower Sellers
Florists in Tulum face low sales and growing competition from supermarkets and street vendors ahead of Día de Muertos, p...
Oct 30, 2025
Uber’s Airport Win in Mexico Faces New Doubts from Regulators
Uber’s claim of a definitive court suspension allowing operations in Mexico’s airports faces doubt from Quintana Roo and...
Oct 27, 2025
Tulum focuses on romance tourism at London’s World Travel Market
Tulum is preparing focused tourism campaigns for London’s World Travel Market and Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos fair, showcas...
Oct 25, 2025
Tulum prepares for high season with stronger local cooperation
Tulum’s hotel sector remains optimistic as high season approaches, with leaders confident that ...
Oct 21, 2025
Community market brings fresh hope to Tulum’s slowing economy
A new community market in Aldea Zamá, Tulum, connects Maya farmers with local consumers, offering fair prices and fresh ...
Oct 21, 2025
Tulum’s cultural tourism falters under new management system
Tulum’s tourism decline highlights the tension between conservation and accessibility as new management fees at Parque d...
Oct 18, 2025
Tulum’s tourism dream runs into physical limits
Tulum faces mounting pressure to fix beach access and infrastructure as tourism leaders call for urgent action. Official...
Oct 14, 2025
When luxury bites the hand that fed it
Roberto Palazuelos is fighting for land inside Tulum National Park amid the town’s worst tourism slump, sparking outrage...
Oct 14, 2025
International architecture spotlight turns to Tulum this November
Tulum has been named host of the First Caribbean Architecture Biennial, aiming to showcase sustainable design and cultur...
Oct 6, 2025
Tulum hoteliers back free public access but warn of infrastructure burdens
Tulum hotels cautiously support Mexico’s new beach access law, but call for shared responsibility as infrastructure, reg...
Sep 29, 2025
A billion pesos later, Tulum’s airport struggles to fly
Tulum International Airport faces a steep drop in international routes, with poor ground connectivity threatening its ro...
Sep 24, 2025
Judge halts Adamar project in Tulum over environmental violations
The Adamar development in Tulum’s Tankah IV was halted after a judge’s order, citing environmental violations and lack o...
Sep 23, 2025
Tulum lancheros struggle as new beach access fees drive away tourists
Tulum’s lancheros face a crisis as beach access fees and sargassum keep tourists away, leaving boats docked and families...
Sep 22, 2025
Tulum boosts winter tourism campaign in Europe with key travel expos
Tulum intensifies its tourism push in Europe, targeting Paris and London to promote weddings, wellness, and eco-experien...
Sep 17, 2025
Can tourism be regenerative? Grupo Piñero tests the idea in Mexico
Grupo Piñero invested €2.2 million in 2024 to promote regenerative tourism in Mexico and the Caribbean, protecting marin...
Sep 17, 2025
Artisan Shops Close in Tulum Amid Access Crisis at National Park
Tulum vendors are facing mass closures after access changes and rising fees at the Jaguar National Park, threatening liv...
Sep 15, 2025
Business Leaders in Tulum Propose Fresh Strategies for Economic Growth
Tulum’s tourism slowdown is part of a wider global trend, not just local issues like the Parque del Jaguar or beach priv...
Sep 12, 2025
Tulum’s Tourism Depends on Unity Amid Sargassum and Security Challenges
Tulum’s tourism future hinges on unity, warns hotel leader David Ortiz Mena, as the town faces sargassum challenges, saf...
Sep 7, 2025
Why Tulum and Riviera Maya Struggled to Fill Hotels This Summer
Hotel occupancy in the Mexican Caribbean dropped below 73.5% in August, with Grand Costa Maya outperforming hotspots lik...
Aug 29, 2025
Tulum Secures $2 Billion in Foreign Investments
Tulum lands $2B in foreign investment while locals win free access to Jaguar Park, raising new questions about prosperit...
Aug 29, 2025
Tulum business and government leaders unite for sustainable growth in Quintana Roo
Tulum’s leaders and entrepreneurs met to build proposals for growth, security, and wellbeing, aiming to balance Mexico t...
Jun 28, 2025
The Truth About Sargassum Seaweed in Mexico’s Caribbean
Local experts say sargassum seaweed season in Quintana Roo runs April to September, but impacts vary—Tulum leads clean‑u...
May 20, 2025
Economic Crisis Closes Tulum’s Time-Honored Businesses
Tulum’s iconic businesses, including restaurants and boutiques, are collapsing under economic strain, revealing deeper c...
Mar 24, 2025
New Support Programs Boost Tourism in Tulum and Holbox
The Mexican government has launched new support programs to aid tourism service providers in Holbox and Tulum, offering ...
Mar 19, 2025
Free Tax Guidance Empowers Tulum Entrepreneurs
Mexican entrepreneurs in Tulum can now access free SAT tax advisory services. Learn how to qualify and benefit from this...