Quintana Roo seeks to raise the Visitax tax by 25%.

The Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council warned that the Quintana Roo government’s initiative to increase the Visitax tax by 25%, a tax that foreign tourists must pay to enter and leave the state, would jeopardize Mexico’s tourism competitiveness.

“While other international destinations are adjusting tax burdens downward to attract more visitors, the Quintana Roo state government’s proposal to increase the Visitax tax and require hotels and tourism service providers to collect it goes in the opposite direction and puts Mexico at a clear disadvantage. Quintana Roo is in a region where tourism demand is highly sensitive to cost increases,” they stated.

Currently, the Visitax tax costs 283 Mexican pesos, so it would rise to 353.75 pesos. Tourists pay this tax in addition to the Non-Resident Tax (DNR) that all travelers pay to enter Mexico, which currently costs 861 Mexican pesos.

Hoteliers also expressed their opposition to the measure that requires them to act as withholding agents for the tax.

“Far from strengthening tax collection, the measure compromises the state’s competitiveness, undermines the legal certainty of hotels and tourism service providers, who are improperly made withholding agents, as well as investors, suppliers, visitors, and workers, and threatens Quintana Roo’s main economic engine.”

Business owners stated that, for operational and contractual reasons, hotels cannot pass this new charge on to rates already negotiated internationally months in advance.

“Additionally, dispersing Visitax collections among thousands of service providers multiplies the risk of improper collection, generates inconsistencies, confusion for travelers, and friction that directly affects the perception of the destination.”

For hoteliers, the Quintana Roo government’s proposal contradicts the principles of “Plan México,” whose guiding principle is to improve the country’s international image, reduce visitor costs, and strengthen confidence to boost tourism as a strategic driver of development. Mexico aims to be one of the five most visited countries by 2030.

“Instead of contributing to this commitment, the new scheme unjustifiably increases the cost of visiting, deteriorates the traveler’s experience, and erodes incentives to invest in domestic destinations.”

Hoteliers also indicated that the increase penalizes the multi-destination model, since in places like Chetumal or Bacalar, the Visitax fee for a couple can be almost equivalent to a full night’s stay.

“This disproportionately affects affordable hotels and family-run businesses, jeopardizing the future of the multi-destination model that distinguishes the Mexican Caribbean.”

Source: dineroenimagen