Mahahual, Q.R. — Cruise company Royal Caribbean has responded to ongoing criticism about their lack of plan-sharing for Mahahual. The mega-travel company has taken administrative control over the town’s Port of Costa Maya, which it intends to revamp into a private travel destination for their cruise ship passengers.
While some have defended the up and coming transformation, others are questioning what the company’s plans are for the small town.
In a statement by Jay Schnaider, the Director of Product Innovation for Royal Caribbean, he says their plans comply with local regulations and will contribute to the local community. The company also says they have met with locals to listen and identify priorities.
Royal Caribbean says in coming weeks, they will submit their Environmental Impact Statement, and once submitted “will host a community meeting to explain the details of the project and gather feedback.”
In an official statement sent to Riviera Maya News, the company said: Royal Caribbean Group is proud to share more details about our Perfect Day Mexico project in Mahahual, a transformative development characterized by transparency and a deep respect for the local community and the environment.
As we move forward, we remain focused on creating lasting benefits for the region through careful planning and open dialogue. Our acquisition of the port of Costa Maya in July marks the beginning of this journey.
Perfect Day Mexico is designed to generate a positive and lasting impact on the economy, the local community, and the environment. All current and future Royal Caribbean projects in Mexico and around the world comply with local regulations, meet the highest sustainability standards, and contribute significantly to the communities in which we operate.
Since recently assuming responsibility for port management, we have worked closely with employees, suppliers and the community to listen to, identify and understand their priorities.
This collaborative approach ensures the continuity of port operations for all cruise lines that call at Costa Maya, maintaining and supporting regional tourism. We have also established direct and open dialogue with residents through community meetings, a practice we will continue as part of our commitment to transparency in our operations.
In the coming weeks, we will submit the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for our Mahahual project to the relevant authorities for evaluation. Once submitted, we will host a community meeting to explain the details of the project and gather feedback, ensuring that the project reflects our commitment to a shared vision of prosperity.
Construction and renovation activities will only begin once we have the necessary environmental permits from the relevant authorities. As part of our ongoing environmental commitment, we will conserve 45 hectares of existing mangroves. These mangroves are currently polluted due to damage to existing infrastructure.
We will actively participate in restoring water flow throughout the ecosystem and working to reverse existing degradation in groundwater, allowing mangroves to thrive in a natural habitat and flourish in their surroundings.
We will also collaborate to protect the Mesoamerican reef by leaving existing reef structures intact and implementing sustainable solutions to remove sargassum and coastal debris. Furthermore, we are committed to protecting native species, including sea turtle nesting sites along the coast.
A new wastewater treatment plant and solid waste management facility will also be built, serving not only our destination but also the local community, significantly improving the quality of life for residents throughout the region.
Over 95 percent of the treated wastewater will be available for beneficial reuse and the remaining byproduct will be composted for landscaping and vegetation.
Importantly, the solid waste facilities will support our work toward achieving zero waste to landfill, along with our commitment to Perfect Day Mexico being free of single-use plastics, instead offering compostable service items at food and beverage outlets, and leveraging advanced biodigesters to reduce organic waste.
Our plans also include a reverse osmosis plant to generate the fresh water needed for our operations and ensure we are not depleting the region’s water resources. Our commitment to using 100% green energy to power our site by 2040 is based on a holistic approach to sustainable development that balances economic growth, community well-being and environmental protection.
We look forward to continuing to work and innovate with the local community to build a brighter, more sustainable future together. We invite anyone interested in learning more about our project to join our WhatsApp channel (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb5u55F2v1IwDm92da0M) to stay informed about the progress of our activities in Mahahual.
