The tourism sector in Tulum is entering a critical phase as labor leaders and business owners shift their focus toward maintaining a minimum occupancy rate of 70% to 75%. This target is considered the “stability threshold” required to protect thousands of jobs as the region transitions toward the shoulder season.

Claudio Cortez, a representative of the Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants (CROC) in Tulum, noted that current tourism flows are directly impacting the job security of over 54,000 workers. While the Riviera Maya as a whole enjoys occupancy nearing 95%, Tulum’s downtown and coastal zones are averaging between 65% and 70%.

The Occupancy Gap: Tulum vs. Riviera Maya

Despite the surge in visitors across Quintana Roo, Tulum currently operates with roughly one-third of its hotel beds empty. This internal disparity exists even as select high-end coastal properties reach 75% occupancy during weekends. For the labor force, this gap represents more than just statistics; it is the difference between full shifts and “solidarity rest” periods.

“We are talking about colleagues who commute between Playa del Carmen, the Maya Zone, and Tulum,” Cortez explained. “The tourism flow is the pulse that allows us to keep our labor rosters complete and avoid the forced adjustments often seen during low periods.”

Record-Breaking Arrivals Across Quintana Roo

The pressure on Tulum comes despite a historic winter season for the state. Preliminary data from the Quintana Roo Secretariat of Tourism (Sedetur) confirmed that the December 2025–2026 holiday period saw over one million tourists arrive across the entity.

Growth was recorded across all major hubs compared to the winter of 2024. Cancun grew by 5.3% to reach 455,691 visitors, while the Riviera Maya saw a 5.6% increase with 339,729 travelers. Tulum also experienced growth, albeit at a more conservative pace of 1.2%, reaching 141,305 tourists during the same timeframe.

Labor Outlook Through Spring 2026

Unexpectedly, and unlike previous years, there is currently no reported labor shortage or mass layoffs in Tulum’s municipal hotels. Companies have opted to maintain their staff levels relative to current occupancy, banking on a sustained average through the upcoming peak periods.

Labor unions and employers expect to hold the 70% average through April and May, supported by the Spring Break demand and the Holy Week holiday. This period will serve as a definitive litmus test for Tulum’s ability to stabilize its labor market ahead of the traditional summer season.