Tulum, Mexico Has Robust Growth Plans

Mexico’s central tourist pole, which runs from Cancun to the Riviera Maya and reaches Tulum, will be favored through four major tourism infrastructure projects that will facilitate the mobility of travelers in Quintana Roo.

Considered by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) as one of the best cities in the world to vacation or even live, Tulum is going through a large-scale expansion process. Among its great attractions is the Sian Ka’an biosphere, a reserve declared a World Heritage Site, which preserves nine ecosystems and is home to several endangered species.

Before tourism arrived in the region, this majestic natural place was known as Zamá: dawn or rebirth in Mayan, referring to the city’s location that points to the east, where the sun rises and illuminates every corner. Later, it became known as Tulum, or “wall” in Mayan, a name given to it when it was found in ruins by modern explorers in the 19th century.

During the last few years, Quintana Roo has experienced substantial growth in innovation in mobility, seducing new residents and investors willing to make this region grow even more.

The healthy and orderly expansion of hotels in the area is the challenge of the new municipal president, Diego Castañón, who replaced Marciano Dzul, who died in office. The new mayor was the director of Tourism Promotion of Tulum until 2018 and, in Dzul’s brief administration, served as Treasurer of the Municipal Government.

Tulum offers road accessibility and proximity to Cancun’s international airport. In addition, the imminent construction of the Tulum airport has already been announced, providing even more connectivity to travelers.

Likewise, the Mayan Train is a federal project extending a previous plan of 900 kilometers to cover Quintana Roo, Chiapas, and Tabasco. Today, the planning reaches 1,500 kilometers and includes Campeche and Yucatán, which will make mobility easier for residents and tourists, and also means an opportunity to boost the construction industry in the area.

Cities such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum are the epicenter of the state’s tourism activity and foreign investment. According to data from the Ministry of Economy, investment increased by 50 percent in 2019 alone.

Tulum has the charm of a relaxed and very environmentally conscious lifestyle, the same that inspires entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and developers to move to this paradise with an ecological and sustainable look.

For example, Mayaliah Tulum Hotel & Residences – MGallery, an exclusive residential, hotel, and commercial development, will check in at the Magic Town of Tulum, Quintana Roo. This luxurious project, with its sustainable architecture, comprehensive wellness program, and personalized service, aims to revolutionize the real estate market in the area.This development by Inmobilia, a leading real estate group in southern Mexico, and Accor, a hotel chain with more than 5,200 properties in 110 countries, will be located in the lush jungle, two kilometers from the center of town and the beach, and five kilometers from the archaeological zone.

It was recently announced that the international firm DNA Barcelona Architects would build the “Cocoon Hotel & Resort” project in Tulum. This is a new eco-resort within Selva Zamá, one area that is part of the Aldea Zamá community, a developing complex of houses, condominiums, hotels, beach clubs, and other amenities.

And the latest example of hotel construction in Tulum is that of Gestmadrid Asset Management Spain. Apex Capital has created a joint venture to build 20 hotels in Tulum, a popular destination for investors this year. The construction company in charge of the projects to make these accommodations on the Mexican coast will be Pak’te, part of the Apex Capital group.

The works, expected to last five years, will begin in the first quarter of 2023, and the establishments -managed by international hotel chains already positioned in the Caribbean- will be opened as they are finished until the 20 openings are completed.

These projects will be developed on a one-million-square-meter hotel plot located in a strategic enclave, very close to other projects already in progress, such as Four Seasons, JW Marriott, and Azulik.

Apex Capital will provide the funds for constructing these 20 hotels of between 50 and 500 rooms. At the same time, Asset Management Spain Gestmadrid will assume the project management, engineering, and marketing and will provide all the resources of the legal department.

It is also next to the PPP, Papaya Playa Project, one of the most famous beach clubs in the area, which gathers tourists and artists from all over the world to participate in its musical events, attracting visitors every year.

The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) also informed about the construction of the Tulum Civil Military Air Base and Airport, which will be connected to the current highway system and the Mayan Train to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services to the south of the Riviera Maya, with emphasis on the Playa del Carmen – Tulum – Chetumal corridor.

The Tulum Airport project is undergoing an environmental impact assessment to ensure that the studies and/or technical work being developed comply with environmental regulations and applicable ordinances and that the necessary and sufficient mitigation and compensation measures are established to avoid ecological imbalances in the region.