“There’s only one company in town,” Suarez told me. “Everyone knows everyone and there are always several on every corner. It’s a small world.”
The ever presence of taxis makes sense since Tulum’s tourism industry, growing for years, has seen a boom post Covid.
“This summer, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum smashed records, as they received 822 thousand vacationers between the months of June to August, as reported by the Riviera Maya Hotel Association (AHRM).” Cancun Sun, September 2022.
That is compared with 625,000 visitors in 2019. The fact is Tulum is on track to grow even more. Since 2019 the Riviera Maya (an area including Tulum) has added 7000 hotel rooms, and a new international airport in Tulum is set to open at the end of this year. There’s also a regional train service including Cancun that’s under construction. Quintana Roo is growing fast.
The plan for more people to come makes sense as Tulum has some of the most beautiful beaches and cultural sites in the world. Besides, who doesn’t love Mexican food and culture? Sadly a growing issue in Tulum is the same one much of Mexico struggles with: violent crime.
