The president of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, Toni Chávez, stated that to date they have not received a response from the mayor of Playa del Carmen, Estefanía Mercado, after various economic sectors of the municipality submitted letters to her respectfully requesting that she reconsider the increase in property taxes.
He stated that, however, they were surprised and surprised to see the municipal government launch a media attack against hoteliers in the Riviera Maya, claiming that some hotels pay 50 pesos, less than a house at Villas Sol. Although they have requested proof of the veracity of this statement, they have also received no response.
“We have asked the municipal president, Estefanía Mercado, to prove this statement to us, but so far there has been no response. Let her prove it. There is a saying that a lie told a hundred times becomes the truth. If there is a hotel that pays that much, let them prove it and we will see,” he stated.
He affirmed that the rejection of the terms of the proposed increase in property values expressed by hoteliers and economic sectors is not an affront to the mayor, “but rather a respectful request because, given the current economic conditions, no one would tolerate this increase.”
He explained that if the new property tax rates are approved, small hotels would go from paying 300,000 pesos to 7 million pesos and insisted that this effect will affect all citizens.
He noted that small hotels in downtown Playa del Carmen are warning of the possibility of closing or converting into apartments if the property tax tables are updated, “and that would have an impact on the economy and job losses.”
In addition to the risk that at least 45% of small hotels will close due to their inability to cope with the new property tax burden, there is also the possibility that large hotels will file injunctions.
Source: reportur
