Overview
- Mayor Diego Castañón said 15 access points have been secured and confirmed a free entry via the Parque del Jaguar’s south access, with talks underway to add a northern entry.
- The program allows entry at no charge but bars visitors from bringing food, beverages, coolers and umbrellas, channeling consumption to authorized vendors, according to local reporting.
- Tourists and commentators have widely criticized the restrictions as excessive and exclusionary, with viral posts highlighting high local prices fueling discontent.
- Castañón argued his earlier remarks were misinterpreted, saying the no-drinks rule applies to hotel areas and that beverages are allowed on public beaches if federal and protected-area rules are followed.
- He attributed roughly a 10% year-over-year drop in tourism to severe sargassum and said meetings with hoteliers aim to offer more accessible prices, projecting 80% occupancy in November and 90% in December.