TULUM, México — Air Canada will launch a new permanent flight route from Toronto to Tulum International Airport beginning May 3, a move expected to boost the number of Canadian visitors to the Riviera Maya and possibly further south, according to David Ortiz Mena, president of the Tulum Hotel Association. This initiative marks a significant expansion in the offerings at the rapidly evolving “Felipe Carrillo Puerto” Airport, which has already surpassed all expectations with its multitude of domestic flights and substantial international traffic shortly after its opening.
Ortiz Mena emphasized the strategic importance of this development, noting that Canada remains one of the primary source markets for tourism in Tulum and the broader Riviera Maya. The influx of Canadian tourists is anticipated to increase significantly between 2024 and 2025. “This new route is noteworthy as it does not merely shift traffic from Cancun; it is a brand-new service and not seasonal, with Air Canada fully committing to Tulum’s new airport,” he explained.
The conversation around airports and Canadian travelers cannot overlook a recent embarrassing incident involving a taxi driver at Cancun International Airport who attempted to charge a Canadian visitor $1,000 to move from one terminal to another. Ortiz Mena described this event as “regrettable,” and informed that the taxi driver involved had been arrested and is currently undergoing the process of license revocation. “It’s disheartening that despite our efforts to promote our destinations, such incidents can tarnish our reputation,” he remarked.
The president further reflected on the region’s challenges, particularly in maintaining the quality of service expected by international visitors. “Sadly, not everyone understands we thrive on tourism, and these malpractices harm our destination,” he stated, referencing a video of the incident that went viral, causing the Canadian visitor to declare he would never return to Mexico—an assertion that resonated with his followers and others who learned of the incident.
Ortiz Mena highlighted the urgent need for service improvements at Tulum Airport, particularly regarding the costly local transportation options. “While it’s easy to point fingers, the truth is that in Quintana Roo, we still lag in enhancing our transportation services compared to the improvements seen in other countries due to digital platforms and competition,” he argued.
In other nations, the advent of digital transportation platforms has spurred significant enhancements in service quality and cost efficiency, a trend that stakeholders in Quintana Roo hope to emulate. Ortiz Mena expressed optimism that the ongoing developments and increased international scrutiny might accelerate these much-needed improvements.
