Tulum airport mobility efforts face infrastructure and competition challenges

Mexico's Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, has highlighted various ground transportation options to improve visitor mobility from the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport to Tulum Centro and surrounding areas. Available services include ADO buses, intermodal connections with the Tren Maya, authorized taxis, and car rentals. This initiative is part of the ‘Plan Tulum Renace’, which aims to strengthen international connectivity through new routes to the United States and Canada while professionalizing the sector.

However, industry sources report challenges regarding the airport's competitiveness. Some travel agencies and aviation specialists note a decline in Tulum as a final destination due to high prices, sargassum, and insufficient tourism promotion. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of surrounding infrastructure, such as nearby hotels and commercial services, compared to Cancun. Experts suggest that while operational incentives exist for airlines, the lack of passenger flow and the difficulty in managing flight cancellations or connections may hinder the airport's ability to compete with established regional hubs.