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Tren Maya: Passenger project full of promise empty of tourists

Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A project full of promise but empty of tourists is how many see
former president López Obrador’s Maya Train project. Despite its potential to unite the Mayan region and become a first-class tourist attraction, many believe the train is nothing more than a means of local transportation.

Sergio González Rubiera, President of the Mexican Association of Tourism Agencies, says he believes the project is far from meeting expectations.

“It’s a great idea, but the problem is that it has not been done well,” says González Rubiera.”The train has faults and does not operate well. It was to be expected, as happens with many new projects, but the urgency of the inauguration was stronger than the need to do it correctly,” he said

Several sections of the Maya Train were inaugurated before being operational. It became confusing to announce inagurated train stations that were not yet finished.

The Tulum station was one of several inaugurated before being operational.

For the tourism leader, the rush to inaugurate the train left many deficiencies exposed. González Rubiera says he predicts the train will not be successful among tourists visiting Quintana Roo as planned.

“Most tourists here are in all-inclusive hotels. No one is going to leave the comfort of their resort to get on a train and tour Mérida or Chiapas. That type of tourist is not the right audience,” he said pointing out that the region’s tourism model is not compatible with the current services of the Maya Train.

González Rubiera believes that the future of the Maya Train could be more in freight transport than in passenger. “I don’t think it will ever carry passengers in a significant way. What I see is that it will become a freight train which would be beneficial both for the project and for the economy of the peninsula.”

According to his analysis, the true tourist potential of the Maya Train would be to attract a different type of traveler, lovers of Mayan culture and cultural tourism, from countries such as Germany, Italy or France. However, for this to happen, a clear marketing and specialized promotion strategy is required, something that, according to González Rubiera, the train does not have.

Tren Maya needs to attract a specific type of traveler,

“The train is being operated by military personnel who have no experience in tourism, and that is noticeable.”

González Rubiera also pointed out the lack of presence of the Maya Train at important tourism events such as the recent Cancún Travel Mart.

“Today, the Maya Train is not a tourist product that can be offered. There are no clear routes, there are no defined prices, not even the schedules are well established,” he commented noting that travel agencies have not yet had any contact regarding train promotion.

“If they had a developed product, they would be here at tourist events, explaining what time it leaves, how much it costs, in what languages it is available. But we don’t know anything, everything remains a mystery,” he said.

Jesús Almaguer, President of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association said that without a doubt the Maya Train is seen as an opportunity, when it works correctly, to revive the Mayan world in the Yucatan Peninsula.

“Just like 15 or 20 years ago there was the Mayan world circuit that was done in vans. Now if this project works with defined schedules, it is a wonderful opportunity to revive and relaunch the Mayan World,” he said.

The hotel industry will always support this type of project, but for the moment, he said, it is only a means of transport in its pre-opening. “It will have to work and acquire a rhythm and generate confidence and it will be a great opportunity to revive and relaunch the Mayan World.

“The Mayan train now is not a tourist attraction. It is a means of transport. That must be generated. Points of attraction or tourist attractions, and although there are already defined stations such as Chichen Itza, Merida or Tulum, it must continue to grow and make alliances,” he said.