Tourism Council Rejects $20 Air Tax in Mexico

A recently proposed air tax for tourists arriving into Mexico has been rejected by tourism heads in the state of Quintana Roo.

The National Business Tourism Council (CNET) made the $20 USD air tax proposal in June arguing that the state of Quintana Roo should be the first to test the tax since it receives the highest percentage of tourist travel. The tax, the council said, would be used for security purposes. 

The tourism business sector of the state rejected any new tax that the authorities intend to carry out.

Representatives of associations and tourist chambers for Quintana Roo held a press conference last week saying they will no longer accept any increase in current taxes or the creation of new taxes. 

“We do not agree that any additional taxes be paid on tourism. Incentives must be given for tourism. Taxes that are already being collected should be managed better rather than thinking about how we can punish tourists by collecting more,” said Roberto Díaz Abraham, president of the Underwater Art Museum in a written statement.

Miriam Cortés Franco, executive president of the Association of Holiday Clubs of Quintana Roo, also said in a written statement that there is still no clarity with the handling of 30 percent of the lodging tax that is supposed to go to the sector. And although the group recognizes that the current state administration started with many problems, they’ve already had a year to recover but it is not clear what has been done to recover finances.

Quintana Roo is home to many popular tourist destinations including Cancun and Playa del Carmen. 

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