Tourist Tax Drives 40% Hotel Occupancy Drop in Southern Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — A tourist tax has caused hotel occupancy in southern Quintana Roo to plummet by up to 40%, with Belizean visitors particularly affected, according to local hoteliers.

Raul Andrade Angulo, president of the Hotel Association for the central and southern regions, expressed concern over the sharp decline, attributing it to the Non-Resident Fee (DNR) imposed on tourists entering Mexico by sea or air. The federal government began charging 980 pesos (approximately $50) last year for this fee.

“This tax acts as a deterrent for short-term tourism that used to visit the city every weekend,” Andrade Angulo said. He noted that Belizean tourism has been hardest hit, with the number of monthly cross-border visitors dropping from 50,000, leading to economic losses.

The hotel association has requested that federal authorities review the DNR amount to restore competitiveness against other destinations without such economic barriers or with more attractions. Andrade Angulo lamented that the sector has stagnated by offering only traditional recreational options like cinemas and restaurants, prompting visitors to choose alternatives such as Bacalar, Mahahual, or Mérida.