Cancun’s Spring Break Tourism Plummets by 65%

Despite the lack of targeted promotion for the Spring Break market, Cancun is expected to welcome at least 35,000 students from the end of February. Jesús Almaguer Salazar, president of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, noted that it's increasingly difficult to track this market as there are fewer operators focusing solely on this segment, leading to a more scattered demographic.

Salazar emphasized that the number of Spring Break vacationers has been steadily declining year after year, with a loss of more than 50% of these tourists. However, students continue to flock to Cancun, despite its reputation as a potentially unsafe destination and the lack of institutional promotion. Up until 2002, the city saw over 100,000 tourists annually, with its beaches, accommodations, and nightclubs preparing for various parties featuring international artists.

Sebastian Robles, Public Relations Director of CocoBongo, highlighted that the arrival of primarily American students marks a high season for Cancun. "The influx of tourists from this segment will start towards the end of February and the beginning of March. We are still collaborating with some agencies, which will help us attract more tourists," he explained.

Currently, Cancun sees a daily occupancy of at least a thousand people. This number is expected to increase from the end of February through April, coinciding with Easter week, when domestic tourists typically visit the city.