Chetumal (coordinates: ) is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Quintana Roo and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco. In 2005 it had a population of 136,825 people.
The city is situated on the western side of Chetumal Bay, near the mouth of the Rio Hondo. Chetumal is an important port for the region, and operates as Mexico's main trading gateway with the neighboring country of Belize. Goods are transported via a road connecting Chetumal with Belize City to the south, and also via coastal merchant ships.
Contemporary ChetumalChetumal is a small growing city with an International Airport. The city has a Museum of Maya Culture as well as a zoo.
Chetumal's economy has been influenced by its proximity to the Mexico-Belize border. A goods and services tax-free zone (Corozal Free Zone) established on the Belizean side attracts many visitors to Chetumal, and also provides a ready market for Chetumal's retailers and traders. Chetumal itself was also once a Free Zone, and a notable destination for people from other parts of Mexico seeking to purchase high-value and bulk goods, free of government duty charges (a policy which was deliberately implemented to attract this business). The city retains a significant retail trade for the region, which supports many local businesses.
Several modern malls have been built, such as the Plaza de Américas mall, which houses a modern movie theater, various department store chains, food outlets and supermarkets.
In addition to its retail economy, Chetumal is also the capital of the state of Quintana Roo. Thus, all of the governmental offices are located here. This results in a large population of government employees, whose consumption of local goods and services injects additional revenue into the Chetumal economy.
In the early 1990s the University of Quintana Roo was established at Chetumal, providing training and advanced tertiary degrees over a range of subjects.
