Low Hotel Occupancy: The World Cup Did Not Help the Tourism Sector in Yucatan

Low hotel occupancy: The World Cup did not help the tourism sector in Yucatan

MÉRIDA, Yucatán — Far from providing an economic boost, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has coincided with a severe slump for Yucatán’s tourism sector. Local hotels report low occupancy rates and sparse visitor numbers throughout June. Juan José Martín Pacheco, president of the Mexican Hotel Association of Yucatán (AMHY), confirmed that the state failed to reap benefits from the global soccer tournament. Instead, international and domestic travelers byp…

Yucatán Hotel Occupancy Falls Short of World Cup Expectations

The hotel industry in Yucatán faced a disappointing June. The occupancy rates for the state fell short of initial expectations, which had been based on the assumption that Mérida would receive visitors during breaks between matches of the 2026 World Cup.  While official host cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey recorded modest bumps in...