Royal Caribbean Group says it’s disappointed after Mexico rejected its planned Perfect Day resort project.
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Mexico’s environmental authorities said they won’t approve Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico destination.
Alicia Bárcena, secretary of environment and natural resources, announced the decision on May 19 after the project faced pushback from environmental advocates.
Building on the success of the cruise line’s Bahamas private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, plans for Perfect Day Mexico included a jaguar-shaped water slide tower, a combined lazy and crazy river and more than 10 pools totaling the size of four football fields. The project was scheduled to open in late 2027 in Mahahual on the country’s Caribbean coast.
A Change.org petition with nearly 5 million signatures argued that the more than 200-acre development would threaten the survival of sea turtles, mangroves and other ecosystems, jeopardize locals’ ability to access the sea and more. SEMARNAT, Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, said in a translated post on X that the “protection of ecosystems will continue to be a priority for” the ministry.
Mahahual, home to fewer than 3,000 people, is known for its clear, warm waters and its proximity to the Mesoamerican Reef, the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere, which attracts scuba divers to see its array of fish, coral and other marine life. Greenpeace Mexico called the news a “great victory for civil society” in a translated post on X.
“We are disappointed by SEMARNAT’s decision and respect the role of Mexico’s environmental authorities,” Royal Caribbean Group told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “Mahahual is a special place that deserves care and protection. We continue to believe in Mexico, and are optimistic in the potential to advance our investment responsibly.”
The company added that it “will re-engage stakeholders to move forward in a way that delivers shared prosperity through the development of essential environmental infrastructure, the creation of thousands of local jobs, and community programs that support the people of Mexico” in the coming weeks.
Contributing: Reuters
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].
