PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Between 10 and 15 restaurants in Playa del Carmen have permanently closed their doors during the current off-season, while other establishments have chosen to temporarily suspend operations to undergo renovations or provide staff with much-needed rest.
Roberto Lepe, president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Food Seasoning Industry (Canirac) in Playa del Carmen, acknowledged that the decline in tourism activity has forced some businesses to adjust their operations or exit the market entirely.
However, the restaurant leader noted that the outlook could shift significantly with the arrival of the high season, for which new establishments are already expected to open. Among these upcoming projects, Lepe highlighted the interest of a restaurant chain currently operating in Tulum, which has expressed intentions to expand into Playa del Carmen.
Lepe viewed the arrival of new businesses as a positive signal for the industry, particularly following the months of lower activity experienced by the city’s local establishments.
To mitigate the impact of the off-season, Canirac is working alongside other business chambers and associations to find ways to increase visitor flow and boost consumption at local venues. The current strategy focuses on attracting domestic tourists during periods of lower occupancy to stimulate activity in restaurants and other tourism-linked businesses.
According to reports from REPORTUR.mx, new tourism, residential, and commercial projects represent announced investments of more than $1.6 billion USD for Playa del Carmen. Additionally, other developments with yet-to-be-defined amounts are planned. Estefanía Hernández, Secretary of Economic Development and Investment Attraction, recently highlighted that these projects are poised to generate thousands of jobs in the municipality.