How Tulum National Park’s Management Plan Could Harm Tourism
More than four decades after the declaration of Tulum National Park, the Federal Government now has a Management Plan project that is undergoing consultation. The Tulum Hotel Association hopes that this instrument will not harm the tourism activity, which is a source of income for hundreds of families. They also expect the application of uniform criteria without favoritism or arbitrary decisions.
David Ortiz Mena, the president of this business association, expressed these views in an interview. He emphasized that Tulum National Park is home to tourism service providers, hotels, bars, beach clubs, the archaeological site, and the most visited beaches in the area.
“It is important to consider tourism as an essential activity in this area,” he commented, clarifying that the association sees it as a positive development that clear operational rules are finally being provided after so many years, enabling the authorities to act correctly.
The Tulum Hotel Association has been invited by the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) to an informative meeting on this management plan, which will take place on May 25th at the Casa de la Cultura in the city.
When asked about this project, Ortiz Mena admitted that one concern is that the criteria used to develop this guiding document should stem from a legal analysis of the situation in the park, rather than being influenced by the current authorities’ whims. This is because some hotels have been established for decades with property titles, while others have more recently settled in the area.
This apprehension arises from the fact that the Conanp, the organization in charge of this park, seems to engage in harassment against certain establishments while remaining inactive regarding new constructions carried out this year.
In conclusion, Ortiz Mena stated that everyone is pursuing the same goal: the conservation of this space, sustainability, and the proper management of this tourist destination. Moreover, the hotels within Tulum National Park have contributed to maintaining the low environmental impact of the area, as the federal authority lacks the capacity to handle the thousands of visitors received there.
