Mexico tourism split: Riviera Maya hotels seek emergency over record sargassum, Acapulco reports high occupancy

Hotel operators in the Riviera Maya have formally asked state and federal authorities to declare an emergency after a massive sargassum influx in 2026 devastated beach conditions. The seaweed accumulation reached historic levels – more than 83,000 tonnes nationwide, including 30,221 t in Playa del Carmen and 20,469 t in Cancún – and drove average hotel occupancy to just 59.6 % for the week of 4‑10 July, far below typical summer figures. Occupancy varied across the region, with the Riviera Maya overall at 54.1 %, Tulum at 41.5 % and small hotels in Playa del Carmen averaging 32 %. The association warned, “No se puede seguir esperando. Las playas necesitan ser restauradas para recuperar la confianza de los mercados turísticos.”

In contrast, the state of Guerrero’s Acapulco area recorded strong hotel demand during the same vacation period, with an average occupancy of 86.2 % and the Golden Zone reaching 94.4 %. Overall port occupancy hit 90.2 %, supported by promotion efforts led by Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda and Tourism Secretary Simón Quiñones Orozco. Nearby destinations such as Ixtapa‑Zihuatanejo and Taxco also posted occupancy above 80 %, indicating a favorable tourism performance for the region despite the Riviera Maya challenges.