Majahual Spared by Hurricane Beryl, Tourism Focus Shifts

The coastal town of Majahual, located in the southern part of Quintana Roo, Mexico, was spared from the expected onslaught of Hurricane Beryl. Anticipated torrential rains, high winds, and increased wave activity did not materialize on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Although the threat of the hurricane led to the evacuation of residents, no damage was reported to the village or its tourist infrastructure on Friday. Business owners did report economic impacts due to unexpected expenses incurred in preparing for the storm and from cancellations at lodging centers. Gerardo Pérez Zafra, a representative of the local hotel sector, confirmed these reports.

"We are certainly thankful that the hurricane did not hit us, but we did have to bear unbudgeted expenses for storm preparations, such as purchasing plywood to protect our hotels. This has impacted us, as we had budgeted for income, not expenses," Zafra said. "We tried to encourage guests to reschedule rather than cancel their reservations, but some preferred to cancel due to scheduling constraints, which has resulted in a significant loss for us."

Zafra noted that the total economic losses across the hotel, restaurant, services, and boating industries are not yet known, as not all businesses have disclosed their figures. However, he emphasized the importance of businesses being fully operational to serve visitors, especially during the summer season. The cost of storm preparation, including the purchase and installation of protective materials, ranged from 50,000 to 100,000 pesos per business, an expense that was not anticipated.

Zafra added that the beaches are clean and free of sargassum, a type of seaweed. He attributed this to a decrease in sargassum compared to previous years and to the successful use of barriers installed at strategic points. "The beach is in excellent condition and free of sargassum. The barriers have helped keep the area clean and ready for the summer season. Majahual is a sargassum-free place, thanks to the barriers in the economic zone that allow the beaches to be enjoyed to the fullest," he said.

Zafra concluded by expressing optimism that the town will continue to see very little sargassum, which will further benefit the destination, even though the peak season for the seaweed is still ongoing.