Background on Julio Villarreal Zapata and Canirac
Julio Villarreal Zapata, the president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Condiment Industry (Canirac) in Quintana Roo, provided insights into the recent situation of Cancun’s restaurant sector.
Canirac represents around 420 affiliated members in Cancun, striving to maintain acceptable levels of customers through promotional strategies and menu innovations using local ingredients.
Economic Uncertainty Affects Cancun and Beyond
Villarreal Zapata highlighted that the current economic uncertainty is not exclusive to Cancun but a global phenomenon.
- Economic Uncertainty: According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), people are holding back on spending due to global economic uncertainty.
- Tourism Impact: During the summer vacation season, hotel occupancy did not meet expectations, further contributing to a decrease in overall consumption.
- Fear of Spending: The uncertainty caused by tariff policies, particularly in the United States, has made people hesitant to spend their money.
Recent Sector Performance and Strategies
Despite a challenging first half of September with only 75% occupancy on average, the restaurant sector in Cancun experienced a brief respite thanks to a boxing match and patriotic celebrations over the past weekend.
- Boxing Match Impact: Sports bars reported strong sales during the boxing match on September 15, but business slowed down on Sunday and Monday.
- Patriotic Celebrations: Business picked up again on September 16, with some establishments reporting full capacity due to special events related to the patriotic celebrations.
Canirac members are devising promotional strategies and menu innovations to attract customers, focusing on local ingredients.
Looking Ahead
Villarreal Zapata remains optimistic, expecting the situation to improve by October or November, with hopes of regaining 2024’s performance levels.
