Royal Caribbean's $600 million Perfect Day resort blocked in Mahahual, Mexico

Royal Caribbean’s planned Perfect Day resort in Mahahual, Quintana Roo, a $600 million megaproject intended to host up to 21,000 visitors daily, was halted by Mexico’s federal environmental authority on grounds of insufficient local infrastructure for waste and water treatment. The cancellation drew sharp criticism from regional business leaders, who warned that the loss of the investment would deepen unemployment and economic lag in the southern part of the state, which has long been underserved compared to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The Chetumal business council and the Mahahual taxi union highlighted the project's promise of jobs, urban improvements, and increased public services, arguing that the decision sends a negative signal to national and foreign investors. Amid the dispute, Panama’s mayor publicly invited Royal Caribbean to relocate the development, underscoring competition among countries for large tourism investments. Environmental groups praised the halt, while local officials and communities remain divided over the future of large‑scale tourism in the region.