Travel to the rugged beach town of Tulum may get a lot easier if Mexico’s President López Obrador has his way. The President announced this week that a new airport will be built in Tulum, Quintana Roo, constructed by the army with plans to open in 2023.
Currently, travelers who wish to visit Tulum must fly into Cancun International Airport and take a very busy and bumpy hour and a half drive south. In high season, the drive can take almost 3 hours in gridlock traffic. Located on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Tulum is one of the most popular destinations for the rich and famous, but the long drive from Cancun was always a sore spot.
López Obrador said that military engineers will build the facility, similar to what is being done with the new Mexico City airport. The president added that a large piece of land was set aside for the airport after former president Felipe Calderón announced a plan to build in 2010.
The airport will be built across two government lots near the town of Tulum. One is owned by the Ministry of Communications and Transportation and the other belongs to the Ministry of the Navy. To counter fears that it will take business away from Cancún airport, López Obrador said, “The truth is that there is room for two airports. There’s room for Cancún airport to continue having a large influx of passengers.” He also noted that the Maya Train project is slated to begin operations in 2023.
The new airport will include plans for a luxury terminal for high-level visitors arriving by private jet as well as a regular terminal for all travelers. The new airport will be an extraordinary addition to the area which has seen a huge downturn in visitors. While predicting that tourism will continue to increase, the Tulum market remains extremely limited because flights from Europe to Cancún are still far below pre-pandemic levels, and Canadian travelers are avoiding the journey altogether.
There is also a large influx of new development in the works for Tulum with over 12 new properties and resorts being planned for the area stretching from downtown Tulum to Sian Ka’an reserve.
Among the new developments are the gated eco-community of Lúum Zama, a new cocoon-style development designed by DNA architects with 204 apartments, 167 rooms, and 16 private villas, while several luxury branded resorts are eyeing land in the jungle biosphere area of Sian Ka’an. Dream Hotels also announced plans for Central Park Lagunas, Central Park Rios, and The Beach Club.
And earlier this year, Thor Equities Group bought Casa Magna, part of a beachfront compound once owned by Pablo Escobar, with plans to spend over $100 million to develop 40 luxury hotel rooms, a spa, and high-end shops.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2020/10/07/tulum-mexico-will-get-a-new-luxury-airport-in-2023/#2b5e2ebd3f36
