"Tulum was once an off-the-grid backpacker town on the Yucatan Peninsula where life moved slowly. The coastal town was quiet, filled with dirt roads and stretches of white sand against the backdrop of turquoise waters. The real luxury in this modest beach town was found in its natural beauty and history, as it's home to some of the most important Mayan archaeological sites in the world."
"Anyone with a social media account knows that Tulum was portrayed as a beach-chic, glamorous, and carefree place that was affordable and safe, especially when compared to its northern neighbor in 2020. Americans were dealing with record inflation and a significant racial reckoning following a series of high-profile police killings of Black Americans. It prompted a Blaxit movement from the U.S. Many Black Americans reported feeling safer in other countries and found community in groups such as Black in Tulum."
"However, the once undiscovered gem became a victim of overtourism, and problems inevitably arose. The town, with an average population of about 46,000, became chaotic and overcrowded, as locals were being pushed out by rapid growth and rising prices. Tulum experienced unprecedented growth without adequate infrastructure, which ultimately led to a paradox of "luxury tourism" and the lack of basic services."
Tulum shifted from an off-the-grid backpacker destination to a booming tourist hotspot renowned for white-sand beaches and major Mayan archaeological sites. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated growth as digital nomads and expats moved in, aided by Mexico's relaxed entry rules. Social-media portrayals framed Tulum as an affordable, glamorous refuge, attracting diverse visitors including Black Americans seeking safety and community. Rapid population and tourism increases outpaced local infrastructure and services, driving up prices and displacing residents while creating a contrast between luxury tourism and inadequate basic amenities.
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