This Tuesday, tourism service providers, businessmen, merchants and transporters demonstrated against the new federal tax against cruise ships.
Around a hundred people demonstrated outside the National Port System Administration (ASIPONA of Puerto Vallarta) against the new tax of 42 dollars per passenger that is intended to be charged to tourists starting in January 2025.
Councilwoman Melissa Madero explained that this tax will affect dozens of families who live off of tourists who arrive on these cruise ships.
“We are talking about hundreds of families who live off of transporters, tourist guides, merchants who are within that concession and large and small companies,” said the councilwoman.
She added that with this new tax, the negotiations that are being held for 2025 and 2026 are also put in jeopardy. For the 2024 season, 137 cruises were negotiated.
She added that the increase will also affect the income to the federal coffers and the spill in the port since each cruise pays between 650 thousand and 800 thousand pesos. In addition to the 119 dollars that each cruise passenger spends on average in this tourist destination.
With the increase in the tax, the shipping companies can redirect their destinations and their sales negotiations and commercial strategies for the coming years could reach others
“That is why they can decide to change their routes, we have projected 135 cruises for 2025, these are negotiations that have already been made,” added the councilor of the Futuro party.
According to the official, the port receives about half a million cruise passengers a year.
The recent approval of the tax in the Chamber of Deputies and that could be ratified by the Senate this Tuesday, has generated a wave of protests in the port communities of Mexico. This measure, which imposes an additional tax of $42 per passenger starting in January 2025, has raised alarms among tourism sector players, who fear its devastating consequences for the local economy.
“This tax could be catastrophic for the thousands of families who depend on cruise tourism in Mexico. In our port, this measure would raise the cost of cruises by 213% compared to the average of other Caribbean ports, which would put Mexico out of the market,” Madero said during the protest.
The councilor made an urgent call to citizens and local authorities to demand that legislators, senators and the president stop this measure before it comes into effect and is really analyzed well.
“Cruise lines are already reconsidering their routes, which could jeopardize more than a billion dollars in investments planned for tourism infrastructure projects, social programs and local employment,” she explained.
Despite protests and rejection in various sectors, the Federal Government has not yet issued an official position regarding the modification requests. Those affected continue to mobilize in search of a solution that balances fiscal needs with the economic reality of coastal communities.
With the implementation of this legislation scheduled for January 1, 2025, time is running out. “The well-being of thousands of Mexican families is at stake. It is our responsibility to ensure that the interests of local communities are taken into account before approving legislation that could have irreversible effects,” concluded the councilor.
Source: informador
