Sargassum Funding Secure Despite Visitax Cancellation

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The cancellation of the increase to the Visitax tourist fee will not compromise the planned actions to combat sargassum in Quintana Roo during 2026, according to the head of the Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), Óscar Rébora Aguilera.

The state official clarified to Ruptura-360 that although allocating a portion of Visitax revenue to address sargassum influx had been considered, it was not the only funding source contemplated for confronting this natural phenomenon.

Resources Guaranteed for Sargassum Response

Rébora Aguilera explained that in 2025, actions against sargassum were primarily financed with resources from the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone Fund (Zofemat), a scheme that will be maintained for the coming year.

He detailed that he recently held a meeting with the head of the Secretariat of Finance and Planning (Sefiplan), Martha Parroquín, and with the secretary of Good Government and Anti-Corruption, Reyna Arceo, to adjust the proposal that will be presented to the Fund’s Technical Council in 2026.

“It’s not that resources have been taken away from the sargassum issue, but rather that additional resources were intended to be available to foresee extraordinary situations,” emphasized the head of SEMA.

Investment and Actions Implemented

For the 2025 sargassum season, the State Government allocated approximately 133 million pesos, an investment that allowed strengthening the collection of the macroalgae on public beaches in northern and southern Quintana Roo. A similar amount is contemplated for 2026.

The budget includes:

• Maintenance of sargassum collection boats
• Operation of the Natans vessel from the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar)
• Installation of 10 kilometers of anti-sargassum barriers in areas with greater influx

Additionally, municipalities can allocate their own resources—such as environmental sanitation fees—and receive state support with specialized machinery, as occurred in Othón P. Blanco.

Context of the Visitax Increase Cancellation

Visitax is a fee charged to foreign tourists since 2022, although its collection level has not exceeded 10% of what was projected, according to SATQROO data.

In response, the State Government proposed raising the charge by 25%, going from 224 to 284 pesos, and implementing its collection through accommodation in more than 138,000 hotel rooms. The initiative contemplated collecting nearly 2,900 million pesos, allocating 40% to sargassum control and environmental conservation.

However, pressure from the hotel sector led to the cancellation of the Visitax increase, a proposal that was ultimately discarded in the 2026 Revenue Law and Expenditure Budget approved by the State Congress.

A Growing Phenomenon

The sargassum influx in 2025 exceeded by more than 150% what was recorded in 2024, when 37,000 tons were collected.

This year, the figure reached almost 100,000 tons, confirming the need to maintain a permanent strategy and solid funding to mitigate its environmental and touristic impact.