Mérida, Yucatán — A tourism industry group in Yucatán has submitted a proposal to the state legislature to classify travel fraud as a specific criminal offense, aiming to establish clear penalties for deceptive practices that affect both consumers and legitimate businesses.
The Mexican Association of the Tourism Industry (AMIT) Yucatán presented the initiative in response to a growing number of cases that place Yucatán among the states with the highest incidence of such fraud in Mexico, according to the association’s president, Rosa Isela García Pantoja.
García Pantoja warned that the lack of specific legal classification makes it difficult to apply exemplary punishments to those who deceive users by selling non-existent or misleading travel services.
Estimates cited by the association indicate that travel fraud has caused significant economic losses nationwide. In 2024 alone, the economic impact reached approximately 800 million pesos, with projections for 2025 suggesting it could rise to 850 million pesos, based on analysis from Mastercard Economic Institute.
The initiative seeks to strengthen consumer protection and provide greater legal security for the tourism sector, which accounts for about 16% of Yucatán’s state GDP. In light of this, AMIT Yucatán also urged travelers to verify that agencies are formally registered and to review service information before booking to avoid potential scams.
Discover more from Riviera Maya News & Events
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.