Chichén Itzá, Mexico's most visited archaeological site, reopened on June 1 after a 13-day closure triggered by a dispute over the relocation of more than 600 vendors and artisans to a new 16-hectare visitor facility called Catvi. The conflict involved the Indigenous Governing Council of Pisté Chichén Itzá (CIGPC), which filed a legal injunction and held protests, arguing insufficient community consultation and inadequate conditions at the new site. Authorities, including Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), defended the project as part of the controversial Maya Train infrastructure, claiming it would improve security and visitor services.
This dispute matters because Chichén Itzá is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, drawing 2.2 million visitors annually and serving as the primary income source for surrounding communities. The closure threatened Yucatán's tourism economy and global image, highlighting ongoing tensions between heritage management, infrastructure development, and local livelihoods. The conflict also reflects broader patterns of community opposition at Maya sites like Toniná and Mayapán, where land and financial disputes have led to prolonged closures.