Cancún’s New Taxis Criticized for Hurting Tourist Image

Cancún, Mexico — Photographs of a new taxi model presented by the Sindicato de Taxistas Andrés Quintana Roo in Cancún are circulating on social media. However, the vehicles have been labeled as “low cost” transport that would damage the image of the destination due to their low capacity and unattractive appearance.

“It is inconceivable that a place that seeks to compete with the main tourist cities on the planet intends to offer transportation in low-capacity vehicles with an unattractive appearance. The visitor expects quality, safety, and service that matches what they pay to come here, not transport that looks more like a motorized rickshaw than a taxi,” said a businessperson from the sector.

The union has stated that this is an “innovative” alternative that is part of what they have called the “Green Wave.” This new vehicle has a capacity for 4 people and a top speed of 70 km/h.

Rubén Carrillo, the secretary of the union, presented these vehicles from an Indian brand as an affordable option for concessionaires. The vehicles will have a cost of 150,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $8,150) with an initial down payment of 15,000 pesos (approximately $815) and a fuel efficiency of up to 30 km per liter.

It was announced in August that tourists could already schedule taxi trips to and from the Cancún airport with Uber, as the company had partnered with Flex Eco Taxi. This was intended to help avoid the service of “pirate taxis” that park outside the terminals.