Mexico's Sheinbaum Announces Ecotourism Decree for Mahahual

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a special decree to give Mahahual on the Costa Maya a protected status that will allow only ecotourism development, not large‑scale mass tourism. The decree will be drafted in coordination with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the Tourism Secretariat, the National Tourism Development Fund (Fonatur) and the Quintana Roo state government, with input from local communities.

The initiative aims to balance economic benefits for hotels, restaurants and small businesses with environmental protection, positioning Mahahual as a national model of sustainable tourism while promoting circular‑economy projects to reduce single‑use plastics in the region.