Visitax Scams Prompt Quintana Roo Tax Overhaul

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The hotel sector of the Riviera Maya is seeking to reform the collection scheme for the Public Domain Property Use Right, known as Visitax, after detecting a series of unauthorized websites that were charging tourists the tax without authorization.

In a meeting with Governor Mara Lezama, the president of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, Toni Chaves, warned that the collection has become a target for fraud and stated that they are working with the state government to design a mechanism that does not affect the visitor and guarantees the transparency of the process.

"We had a meeting with the governor… another collection scheme that does not affect the tourist is being considered, and we are convinced that we will reach an agreement very soon; because many fake pages that were charging were also detected and no one knew where that money was going," stated the leader.

What is Visitax and How is it Paid?

Visitax came into effect in 2022 as a Public Domain Property Use Right. It has a cost of 224 Mexican pesos (about 10 US dollars) and is mandatory for all foreign tourists over 15 years of age visiting Quintana Roo; Mexican tourists or those under 15 are exempt.

According to state law, the resources obtained seek to "generate employment and promote the creation of economic nuclei" through tourism. The payment is made primarily on the official portal of the Quintana Roo Tax Administration Service (SATQ), which allows the tax to be covered when booking, during the stay, or when leaving the state.

To fill out the form, data such as the number of companions, names, ages, passport, departure date, and payment details are requested. It can also be paid at the Cancún airport; some hotels attempted to collect it directly but desisted, considering it intrusive.

Problems of Fraud and Criticism of the Levy

The collection scheme has generated confusion and complaints among tourists and hoteliers. Numerous fraudulent pages mimic the interface of the official site and charge users without providing receipts or directing the money to public coffers.

In addition to the saturation of fake links in search engines, some travelers have been approached by supposed "agents" at the airport. This problem affects the image of destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum and undermines confidence in the local administration.

Visitax has also been criticized for its lack of clarity. Hotel leaders point out that an Environmental Sanitation Fee already exists, which is charged in hotels for beach conservation, meaning the Visitax would duplicate purposes. Even leaders like Jesús Almaguer, president of the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council, have publicly questioned the use of the funds.

"They should charge the cruise passengers and the vacation rentals; but regarding the Visitax… they should tell us where it went, because it is not seen anywhere," Almaguer stated.

New Rates for 2025 and the Fiscal Context

The review of Visitax occurs while Quintana Roo applies new tourist rates for 2025. The state government increased by 100% the access fees to protected natural areas like Tulum, Sian Ka'an, and Banco Chinchorro, and established additional charges to enter archaeological sites in the entity, which range from 90 to 432 pesos, depending on the site.

A charge of 5 pesos was also announced for each cruise passenger arriving at state ports to finance port infrastructure. These measures, along with the federal fee of 42 dollars for the Non-Resident Right for cruises, have generated debate about the saturation of fiscal charges on tourism.

Towards a New Collection System

Toni Chaves assured that the review of Visitax seeks to avoid fraud and improve the visitor experience. Among the options being considered is centralizing collection through secure platforms or even integrating the charge into airline tickets or tourist packages, which would reduce points of contact and the risk of falling victim to fraud.

The objective is for the income to reach the trusts destined for promotion and development and for the process to be simple and reliable for the traveler. While the new scheme is being defined, authorities and hoteliers recommend that tourists pay only on the official SATQ website and distrust pages that do not end in "visitax.gob.mx."

They also remind that there are no immediate fines for not having paid before entering the state, but delays upon departure can occur. The ongoing negotiation is seen as an effort to preserve the reputation of the Riviera Maya as a competitive destination while closing the door to the fraud that has proliferated online.