Tulum Hoteliers Push for Customs Policy Revamp to Boost Tourism

Hoteliers in Tulum are advocating for changes in customs policies to enhance the overall tourist experience. The Tulum Hotel Association, led by its president, David Ortiz Mena, has begun discussions with Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, the newly appointed head of the federal Tourism Secretariat. The focus of these discussions is to review and potentially amend the strict customs criteria regarding the import of personal items.

In particular, the current limitation of one electronic device per person has caused dissatisfaction among tourists arriving at Cancún International Airport. Mena pointed out that many tourists are taken aback and inconvenienced when they bring multiple devices, such as a laptop and a tablet. This is currently deemed irregular by Customs, often leading to hefty fines to prevent the confiscation of these devices.

Mena emphasized, "This is a clear example of what needs to be corrected if we aspire to be a global tourism powerhouse. Tourism must be a national priority in public policies." He expressed optimism that under the leadership of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, such issues will gradually be resolved, especially given the major federal projects that have boosted Tulum's tourist appeal.

One of the key issues Mena plans to champion under the new administration is institutional tourism promotion. He underscored the importance of promoting significant projects like El Jaguar Park and Tulum International Airport to maximize their tourist impact and attract more visitors. "Certainly, this new term will strive for greater efficiency to enable a more robust promotion," he concluded.