Yucatan
Tourism +82% since 2018; Mérida 10th largest metro (1.5M); airport doubled capacity; 'energy island' with 50+ monthly outages; $140M wind farm (2025).
Yucatán's tourism sector has undergone structural transformation, with economic impact surging 82% since 2018. Greater Mérida became Mexico's 10th most populous metropolitan area (1.5 million residents across 14 municipalities), and the airport doubled capacity to 4.7 million passengers annually. Hotel establishments grew 30.3%, adding 16,483 rooms. New routes from Orlando and Miami launched in July 2024.
June 2024 tax incentives target 11 sectors including semiconductors, automotive, medical devices, and clean energy in the Progreso I and Mérida I Industrial Wellbeing Poles. The Energy Agency and Energy Welfare Law attracted $140 million for the Tizimín 2 Wind Farm breaking ground March 2025. But Yucatán is an 'energy island' cut off from Mexico's national grid—during May-June 2024-2025 heatwaves exceeding 45°C, Mérida suffered 50+ outages monthly. CFE plans emergency gas plants in Mérida (499 MW) and Valladolid (1,020 MW).
By 2026, Yucatán will test whether growth can outpace infrastructure. If industrial investment arrives while grid modernization proceeds, the state could model sustainable development. If energy constraints persist and tourism volume exceeds carrying capacity, Mérida's livability—the very quality attracting migrants—may erode under growth pressure.