Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Local businesses say the presence of seaweed on the beaches has caused cancellations and a drop in tourism rates. Due to the high volumes of sargassum washing ashore, they are requesting an emergency declaration.
Andrea Lotito, Vice President of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, says funds need to to be reinvested in addressing the sargassum problem which has caused a drop in hotel occupancy and economic losses for everyone.
The state’s hotel sector in particular warns that the massive influx of algae has impacted the state, decreasing the length of stay of visitors not only in the Riviera Maya but throughout Quintana Roo.
“As hotels, we propose to the authorities that they issue a declaration of emergency in order to access extraordinary resources and be able to face this crisis that is affecting everyone,” she said.
She says she believes it’s feasible for local authorities to issue an emergency declaration since the sargassum amount in 2026 has already exceeded the 2025 amount.
“We can’t wait any longer,” she said. “Summer vacation is just around the corner and we can’t promote a destination covered in sargassum. The beaches need to be restored to regain the confidence of tourist markets.
“Currently we’re experiencing a crisis, and it’s worrying. However, we need the authorities to act quickly, but we’ve seen indecisiveness from some officials regarding this problem, which is affecting thousands of families in Quintana Roo.”
Lotito says it’s not just about collecting washed up sargassum but about developing a comprehensive initiative that requires not only the participation of government authorities and the private sector, but also the involvement of oceanographers and marine biologists.
Ramón Cárdenas González, President of the Riviera Maya Business Coordinating Council says although sargassum does not represent a direct risk to human life, it does cause significant economic losses for tourism.
The business leader warned that, without more decisive action to address the problem, the effects on the competitiveness of destinations could last for several years.
