Tulum Businesses Seek Tax Relief as Tourism Slumps

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Business owners in Tulum are asking the municipal government for an extension on tax and fee payments as a drop in tourism strains their operations.

Adrienne Villanueva, president of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Canaco Servytur) for the Chetumal-Tulum region, said the request comes amid a nationwide decline in sales, but the situation is more acute in Tulum due to the persistent sargassum seaweed problem and other factors that have damaged the destination’s image.

“We urgently need incentives to prevent businesses from closing,” Villanueva said.

She noted that Canaco Servytur members recently met directly with municipal authorities to negotiate support and tax incentives, as the sector faces a difficult outlook while still having to meet all tax obligations.

As an immediate result of the meeting, the municipal government agreed to set up specific working groups with the private sector to collaborate on solutions to the crisis.

Villanueva said there have been no reported business closures so far, but financial pressure remains high. In addition to the tax extension, the chamber is promoting zero-interest loans with a grace period that allows payments to begin after six months.