Worth More Alive: The Economic Value of Coral Reefs for Cozumel Businesses
- Nessie O'Neil
- May 23
- 5 min read
Updated: May 23
Cozumel thrives because of its world-famous coral reefs. Hotels, dive shops, restaurants, tour guides, fishermen, and more all depend on healthy reefs to attract tourists, support jobs, and sustain families. These reefs are your livelihood, your reputation, and your economic security.
But right now, your business and livelihood are under direct threat from plans to build a fourth cruise terminal in Cozumel. This plan, backed by MSC Cruises and some of Mexico's most powerful families, would place a cruise ship pier directly on top of Cozumel's Villa Blanca Reef. One of the most thriving reefs in Cozumel, Villa Blanca is also the area where the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program (CCRRP) has been diligently restoring coral for years.
If this pier is built, your business will feel the impact. Let’s talk about exactly why this project isn’t just bad for reefs—it’s devastating for your bottom line.
Coral Reefs Pay Your Bills
Coral reefs aren’t just pretty scenery. They drive the local economy and bring in millions of tourism dollars every year. Globally, coral reefs generate nearly US$36 billion annually in tourism revenue [x]. Cozumel captures a significant portion of this wealth thanks to its reputation as one of the Caribbean’s top diving destinations.
Think about it:
Divers and snorkelers choose Cozumel because of our vibrant reefs. No coral reefs, no dive tourism.
Local fishermen depend on reefs for healthy fish populations. No healthy reefs, no abundant fish, and fewer restaurant customers.
Beaches and coastal properties rely on reefs for protection. Destroyed reefs mean increased storm damage, erosion, and expensive recovery costs.
The value of coral reefs to Cozumel’s economy isn’t theoretical. It’s cash-in-hand, every single day. Your business thrives because these reefs are alive.
More Cruise Ships Won't Help Your Business
More cruise tourism might sound lucrative at first, wit the promise of millions more visitors each year. But here's the reality: cruise tourists rarely spend much money locally. According to research in Caribbean islands, cruise visitors spend roughly 90% less than overnight tourists who stay in your hotels, eat in your restaurants, and book your tours [x]. Most of the money cruise passengers spend flows back to cruise ship operators, not into local businesses. Another detailed Caribbean study found that less than one-third of cruise tourism benefits stay in the local economy [x].
Meanwhile, cruise tourism leads to:
Increased crowding and strain on infrastructure
Environmental degradation that hurts long-stay tourism
Loss of repeat and high-value overnight tourists who spend significantly more per day
Building a new cruise terminal directly over a restored coral reef site is economic suicide for Cozumel businesses. It means trading high-value repeat tourists for one-day visitors who leave little behind besides waste and congestion.
This Project, Backed by MSC Cruises, is Destroying Your Most Valuable Asset
Let’s be clear: once Villa Blanca Reef is damaged, there’s no going back. Once coral reefs destroyed by construction, they will take centuries to recover—if they recover at all. This project isn’t just risky; it’s reckless. By building the new pier, the local government and cruise companies like MSC Cruises are literally burying your business’s future under concrete.
Imagine Cozumel without thriving reefs. Dive businesses will vanish. Hotels will face lower occupancy. Restaurants will close. Fishing livelihoods will crumble. Cozumel’s global image as a pristine paradise will be replaced by images of destruction and degradation.
The economic costs will be catastrophic.
Coral Reefs are Your Competitive Advantage
Your customers visit Cozumel specifically for its extraordinary underwater beauty. Coral reefs set Cozumel apart from competitors like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, or even Caribbean islands further away. Without this natural advantage, why should tourists choose Cozumel?
Healthy reefs give you:
Repeat customers
Higher daily spending
Stronger brand and reputation
A clear advantage in a highly competitive tourism market
Damage reefs, and you lose it all.
Fight Back Against the Destruction of Cozumel's Coral Reefs
Local stakeholders have real power. When communities come together to protect their economic future, they succeed. For example, Belize protected its coral reefs through local pressure, economic valuation, and targeted legal challenges, ensuring a sustainable future for tourism and fisheries [x].
Your voice and action are essential now.
Here’s what you can do to fight back against the destruction of Cozumel's Villa Blanca Reef:
Partner with the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program
Join businesses like Sand Dollar Sports and Stingray Villa in partnering with CCRRP to protect both Cozumel's Coral Reefs and your businesses. Contact us here.
Contact government officials
Reach out to SECTUR (Secretaría de Turismo de México) at contacto@sectur.gob.mx and tell government officials you will not accept this economically destructive pier project.
You can also reach out to the Directorate of Training and Tourist Culture at dgpyct@sectur.gob.mx and the Digital Strategy department at estrategiadigital@sectur.gob.mx
Boycott MSC Cruises and demand accountability for their support of coral reef destruction in Cozumel
Do not book or encourage your customers to book any cruises with MSC Cruises. Contact MSC and demand accountability transparency. Question how this pier benefits Cozumel long-term (Hint: it doesn't). Call MSC Cruises to discuss their plans to destroy Cozumel's coral reefs at 1-877-665-4655 Email them at mediarelations@msccruisesusa.com or, for influencers, influencers@msccruisesusa.com
Leave comments on MSC Cruises' social media Instagram
Educate Your Guests
Tell tourists why reefs matter, and encourage sustainable visits. Use your business platforms (social media, newsletters, customer interactions) to advocate for reefs and share information about the current plans to destroy Villa Blanca Reef to build a new cruise pier.
Sign and Share the Petition
Cozumel’s Economic Future Depends on You
If Villa Blanca Reef is destroyed, your business pays the price. The cruise companies won't be affected; they’ll simply move elsewhere once Cozumel is no longer appealing. You’ll be left behind, counting your losses. This decision isn’t just environmental, it's economic. It’s about your future profits, your livelihood, and your family’s stability.
Now is the moment to act. Defend Cozumel’s coral reefs, which are the lifeline of your business and community.
Your business, your family, your entire future depend on keeping these reefs alive.
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