Cozumel Cruise Boom: Record Passengers Despite New $5 Tax

Cozumel, Mexico — The arrival of cruise ships and passengers to the Mexican Caribbean continues to rise in 2025, despite the implementation of a new $5 tax per foreign visitor under the Non-Resident Fee (DNR). Vagner Elbiorn Vega, Director of the Integral Port Administration of Quintana Roo (Apiqroo), confirmed that the levy has not deterred tourism in the ports of Cozumel and Mahahual.

Rising Cruise Passenger Numbers

From January 1 to July 23, Cozumel recorded 741 cruise ship arrivals, welcoming a total of 2,684,240 passengers—a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Projections for the year estimate 1,287 cruise ship arrivals and over 4.4 million passengers at the port.

“So far, there has been no negative impact. This year, we are seeing 6% more passengers than in 2024, which is very positive. It was a good agreement between the federal and state governments and the cruise lines; we are at ease and continue receiving cruise passengers,” said Elbiorn Vega.

The official noted that 2024 closed with nearly six million passengers combined between Cozumel and Mahahual, with Cozumel handling the majority at approximately 4.3 million.

Cozumel’s Strategic Role

At the current pace, 2025 is expected to surpass the record numbers achieved in 2019, before the pandemic. Elbiorn Vega added that Cozumel serves four of the five port-related business lines in the state: cruise ships, federal passenger routes, ferries, and nautical tourism (smaller vessels), reinforcing its status as a strategic hub in the Mexican Caribbean.

Regarding the federal Cozumel–Playa del Carmen route, from January 1 to July 16, 1,976,164 passengers were transported—a 6.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Growth in Ferry and Nautical Tourism

For Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries operating the Calica–Cozumel–Calica route, 183,199 passengers were transported between January 1 and July 22 across 2,200 crossings—an 8.4% rise from 2024.

Nautical tourism, which includes smaller tourist vessels, reported 126,241 passengers transported between January 1 and July 22 aboard 6,421 boats. This segment saw the highest growth, with a 19% increase compared to the previous year.

Key Figures and Quote

“This year we are seeing 6% more passengers than in 2024, which is very good. It was a good agreement between the federal and state governments and the cruise lines; we are at ease and continue receiving cruise passengers.”
— Vagner Elbiorn Vega, Director of Apiqroo

• 4.4 million tourists are expected to arrive in Cozumel this year.
• 1,976,164 passengers have traveled the Cozumel–Playa del Carmen route this year.