Cancún Firms Reject New Tourist Tax Collection Plan

Cancún — Tourism companies have begun circulating a formal letter expressing their rejection of assuming the collection of VISITAX, warning that turning tourism businesses into tax collectors would generate confusion, friction, and a negative perception of the destination, and would add operational burdens not related to their core activities, diverting staff and time from visitor service.

Additionally, there is a history of fraud and fake websites related to VISITAX, so taking on this collection could expose them to issues of liability and trust, insisting that the collection must be clear, transparent, and managed exclusively by the authorities, without forced intermediaries.

“Any collection mechanism must be secure and direct. We cannot assume responsibilities that do not correspond to us,” states the document, regarding a new tax that adds to other recent adjustments, as in 2023, the lodging tax increased from 3% to 5%.

For 2026, the entry fee for foreigners to the Tulum archaeological zone will rise from approximately 100 to 210 pesos, an increase of over 100%, so operators warn that this accumulation of costs could make it more difficult to sell Quintana Roo in international markets, especially when the tax burden changes year by year.

The administration of Mara Lezama in Quintana Roo proposes that tourism businesses themselves, such as hotels or restaurants, become collectors of a new tax for all foreign tourists starting in 2026, which would replace the 525 pesos charged at airport terminals, a mechanism that many visitors consider non-transparent.

Beach clubs, tour services, transportation, and car rental agencies would also each accredit this charge, which has generated outrage and concern among, for example, small hoteliers in Cancún facing “a visitor who already feels they pay enough,” and among restaurateurs in Playa del Carmen who fear their employees having to give explanations that are not their responsibility.

Tour guides, according to 24horas, also point out that this could cause arguments and delays in services, while in Tulum, for instance, service providers note that “the destination is already perceived as expensive” and that this new adjustment would put them in more difficulties, amid Mexico’s prominence at Fitur in Madrid in January with Sectur as the main sponsor, as REPORTUR.mx has been revealing.