Cancún Restaurant Owners Press for Tax Incentives to Revive Avenida Yaxchilán

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Restaurant owners in Cancún are pressing city officials to approve tax incentives and cut operating costs along Avenida Yaxchilán, arguing that street events alone will not pull the struggling commercial corridor out of its slump.

Perla Flores, president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (Canirac) in Cancún, said gatherings such as the Feria del Taco do draw visitors and generate foot traffic for local businesses, but their benefits fall short of solving the financial difficulties restaurants face day to day.

She said the sector’s main demands include lower fees for garbage collection and simpler, cheaper procedures for obtaining or renewing operating licenses — expenses that weigh heavily on establishments, especially small and mid-sized restaurants.

“We have taken part in proposals so that the founding area receives incentives. It should be remembered that Avenida Yaxchilán once concentrated most of the dining options available, including late-night ones. We know times have changed, but we will keep pursuing reactivation through events and through our permanent locations,” Flores said.

The business group has already submitted a proposal to the Benito Juárez municipal government to review these issues and find alternatives to support merchants. Flores said the initiative is still under evaluation by city authorities and the sector is waiting for an answer.

She stressed that reviving Avenida Yaxchilán will require more than occasional events, including measures that improve conditions for businesses to stay open and attract new investment. Canirac argues that tax incentives would ease the financial burden on restaurants and strengthen commercial activity in the area, and it wants officials to define support mechanisms that deliver steadier recovery for restaurants and other businesses on one of Cancún’s best-known avenues.