Quintana Roo, Mexico — The state of Quintana Roo is preparing regulations under its Tourism Law to address human trafficking and child sexual exploitation in nearly 80,000 vacation rental units, which have been flagged as high-risk due to a lack of oversight.
New Regulations Target Unregulated Rentals
Bernardo Cueto Riestra, Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Tourism, stated that reforms to the Tourism Law in 2024 now require lodging providers to verify the familial relationship between minors and accompanying adults during stays in any type of accommodation. The forthcoming regulations will specify implementation procedures, penalties for noncompliance, and the full scope of entities obligated to adhere to the rules.
The measures aim to extend protections beyond major tourist destinations—where the highest concentration of rentals exists—to smaller communities increasingly affected by tourism-related crimes.
“We have begun identifying cases where human trafficking and child sexual exploitation are targeting children from indigenous communities,” Cueto Riestra added.
Expanded Responsibilities for Tourism Providers
The law also mandates that tourism service providers participate in interagency committees and programs focused on preventing and combating human trafficking. Additionally, they must support Mexico’s Strategy for the Prevention of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (ESCNNA) in travel and tourism contexts.
A standardized response protocol will be introduced for tourism providers, with authorities monitoring compliance.
Training Initiatives to Strengthen Enforcement
Beyond regulatory changes, the state has launched training programs for all tourism sector workers, emphasizing their role in identifying and preventing criminal activity.
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