Hotel occupancy during the opening match of the Soccer World Cup reached just 65%, well below the 80% to 100% that was projected, according to the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) in Mexico City.
“These figures still do not correspond to the extraordinary scenario that had been announced,” the organization said in a statement.
Furthermore, Coparmex reported that there is no official consolidated information on the number of international tourists who have arrived for the event or what their average spending has been.
“The original estimates of 5.5 million additional visitors and more than 60 billion pesos in revenue continue to be goals, not proven results,” he reiterated.
Impact on small businesses
The confederation considered it worrying that the economic impact is concentrated in large hotel chains and tourist corridors, leaving aside small businesses, which have faced blockages and a decrease in customers.
The effects in the Historic Center and intervened areas show that an event of this magnitude can generate losses when there is no compensation and commercial continuity strategy.
For Coparmex, the success of the World Cup is not measured only by full stadiums; Real data is required such as the increase in hotel occupancy, sales for small businesses, formal jobs, mobility and security for all municipalities.
The organization said it was willing to collaborate with the authorities through dialogue.
“Measures such as the home office, closures or modifications to schedules can be useful at specific times, but they should not become the permanent solution to structural deficiencies in mobility and public services,” he warned.
Finally, he reiterated that the event should be an opportunity for growth, not just an “international showcase,” and that the capital’s problems should not be hidden or their costs passed on to residents and companies.
