Tulum, Q.R. — The mayor of Tulum acknowledges that Grupo Mundo Maya has not respected the agreements to allow free access to Jaguar Park. Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo says he is aware of the charge to national and local tourists to enter the site.
He says that the Olmeca-Maya-Mexica Airport, Railway, Auxiliary and Related Services Group (GAFSACOMM), now known as Grupo Mundo Maya, has not respected the agreements established to allow local residents free access to Jaguar Park.
“The reality is that after the problems we’ve had at the public beach, which is within the protected natural area, we know that charges have been made to national and local tourists.
“We had an agreement with GAFSACOMM that if locals presented their ID, everyone could enter free of charge. These are agreements we made, but they haven’t honored them,” the mayor stated.
Given this situation, Castañón Trejo stated that in coordination with Governor Mara Lezama, talks were held last week with Ricardo Monreal, coordinator of deputies in the Congress of the Union, who has promoted a legislative initiative to guarantee free access to all protected natural areas in the country at least one day a week.
The proposal could see free park access Saturday or Sunday and on holidays.
“We went to see Ricardo Monreal and held meetings. He started the initiative to provide one free access day a week in the protected natural areas, not just in Tulum or Quintana Roo, but throughout the country. That’s what we are trying to achieve,” he explained.
Castañón Trejo said the proposal will be presented to the federal Chamber of Deputies, and that body will determine possible modifications.
For now, Castañón Trejo says they are dealing with complaints regarding the Mundo Maya Group.
“We are trying to resolve it. We will resolve it even if I have to speak out. We made an agreement with them. We talked with them more than 10 times. We had meetings, we held working groups. At first, agreements were reached but now agreements with the local people, the people of Tulum, haven’t been honored and obviously there’s a growing sense of exhaustion,” he explained.
Castañón Trejo says his administration will continue working to ensure citizens have free access to the municipality’s beaches and natural spaces.
“What I’m trying to do is have Congress itself grant that day of the week plus holidays so that not only local people, but also nationals who want to come to Tulum and visit all the protected natural areas can enter free of charge,” he said.
He explained that more than 30 percent of Quintana Roo is made up of protected natural areas, making it urgent to establish a legal framework that guarantees free access.
