Skip to Content

Cancun Tourists Are Facing Flight Cancelations, New Restrictions And Closures

Share The Article

Last Updated

Omicron Effect Catches Up With Cancun And Quintana Roo

Cancun, and the Quintana Roo region as a whole, is finally being hit hard by the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron. Flight cancelations, staff shortages, and restrictions have seen the tourist hotspot rocked after months of astounding success.

cancun hotels

Just this week, the Governor of Quintana Roo announced that the area’s epidemiological traffic light designation was to be moved back down to a yellow level. After months spent in the green designation, the sudden loss in capacity and working hours for many local businesses is a shock. The new rules came into effect on the 10th.

The move was spurred by a massive increase in the infection rate in the region over the Christmas and New Year period, where millions of tourists flooded in from across the world. The bulk of the tourists came from the US, where infection rates saw weekly average highs of 500 thousand a day.

playa del carmen

Restaurants Reduced Capacity

Restaurants in the region are feeling the pinch. According to Marcy Bezaleel Pachecho, President of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Spiced Food Industry, one less operating hour, and a 30% reduced capacity is going to heavily affect business income. As many as 25% of restaurant-based staff are taking 15 days off work after testing positive for COVID-19, further reducing functional capacity.

It’s expected that during the first week of the yellow light ruling, 40% capacity in the restaurants in downtown Cancun will be a strong showing. Tourists still in the area should at least feel comfortable as the restaurants are rapid testing all of their staff before shifts to ensure their safety, but to have patience with the stripped-down service.

playa del carmen

Events Canceled

Many events in Quintana Roo have already been canceled, something else tourists to the area need to consider if still intending to arrive. Some notable cancellations have been John Mayer’s band, Dead and Company’s, three-day slot in Riviera Cancun, and the Departure electronic music festival in Playa del Carmen.

Those hoping to attend the likes of Hootiefest (Jan 26th – 29th) or Crash My Playa (Jan 19th-22nd) will be holding their breath to see if the events will go on. A lot of will depend on the next assessment. Events of over 150 people require everyone to be tested before entry, and of course, the ethics of hosting a large music festival as infection rates rise is up for question in these instances.

aerial view cancun

Flight Cancelations

As the US endured mass flight cancellations over the same holiday period, Cancun appeared to dodge the bullet. But the staff shortage issues have finally caught up with Mexico as a whole, and flight cancellations have been rampant this week.

Although not on the same scale as the huge problems in the US, a significant portion of travelers into the area found themselves with delayed or canceled flights. Aeromexico reported a substantial outbreak within the company, sidelining over 10% of their staff and affecting many flights across the country including Cancun.

cancun airport

The US implemented a shorter isolation period for those testing positive, a move seen as illogical from a health standpoint, but a massive positive for airlines who can get their staff back into planes faster, in turn reducing cancellations.

Flight problems across the world are expected to continue over the coming weeks until countries’ individual peaks in cases have been met.

Tourists are strongly advised to keep abreast of any changes to restrictions to avoid any problems. Contacting your accommodation and airline carrier for reassurance is strongly advised. 

aerial view of cancun

Bars and Nightclubs Closed

Bars and Nightclubs face the worst of the restrictions, and will not be able to open in any capacity during the period. It is hoped that the success of the previous months will help cushion the blow if the closures continue beyond the week, but there is no doubt it is a blow to the owners and workers involved. Travelers should anticipate very little nightlife in this regard, although some may manage to work around it by offering food on their menus. 

bar street in cancun

Read More

Cancun Returns To Yellow Alert With Increased Restrictions As Cases Rise

Dinner In The Sky Coming To The Riviera Maya January 10

Experts Fear Early Arrival of Massive Amounts of Seaweed in Cancun

Plan Your Next Cancun Vacation:

Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!

Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties


↓ Join the community ↓

The Cancun Sun Community FB group has all the latest travel news, conversations and tourism Q&A’s for the Mexican Caribbean

the-cancun-Sun-facebook-group

Subscribe to our Latest Posts

Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Sun’s latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.


Christiaan

Friday 14th of January 2022

So ridiculous. Every variant is getting less deadly but more infectious....as viruses tend to do for. Killing the host doesn't really work for self preservation/survival. Spreading as much as possible does though. Omicron already has a much lower infection fatality rate than the common flu.

Doesn't matter though because counting ik infections is all that matters. The world has gone insane.

Oh well, less tourists while we're there hopefully. :)

W A Dunkley

Wednesday 12th of January 2022

This hoax is getting long in the tooth as they literally ask for economic suicide over a head cold.

Lucy

Wednesday 12th of January 2022

It’s the vaxed that are causing this flu , giving it to everyone from spike proteins . You are banning the wrong people from travel 🤬

%d bloggers like this: