The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in the Riviera Maya state of Quintana Roo is considering various hotel construction projects within Tulum National Park, near the Mayan ruins of the same name. Word on the street seems to indicate that development of the area is “imminent.” Tulum officials, who previously stated that they would not approve any development in the area, are now stating that the need for tax revenue has over-shadowed the need to continue to protect the zone. Public records indicate that the development projects being considered could put as many as 3,000 hotel rooms within the national park on land that is currently protected from such construction.
This change in policy represents a major blow to the region’s cultural and historical conservation efforts. The area of the park has four underground rivers, miles of caves and dozens of documented fresh-water sinkholes (cenotes). The park is also home to the Tulum ruins, which were occupied by the indigenous Mayans between the years 1200 and 1520. It’s also the site of the discovery of the oldest female skeleton ever found in all of the Americas.
As if that’s not frightening enough, one study forecasts that the Tulum area (not just the park, but the town in general) could have more than 15,000 hotel rooms and a local population of more than 160,000 local residents by the year 2030. For comparison, the local population of Tulum is currently around 11,000 and there are less than 1000 hotel rooms available (the vast majority are simple cabanas). Cancun currently has 25,000 hotel rooms and the entire Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen and all the towns from south of Cancun to Tulum) has 20,000 hotel rooms.
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