With lots of new attractions about to open and a boom in tourists carrying electronic devices, Mexico has done away with what is arguably its most unpopular policy, a tax on bringing more than one computer or tablet into Cancun.
“After almost a month of talks,” Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa posted on Facebook on Friday, Mexico will “eliminate the charge for bringing more than one computer or electronic tablets into your personal luggage, within the #Cancun International Airport, with the support of Mexican Customs” (https://fb.watch/vcWouT4KBJ/).
The change is effective immediately.
The tax has been listed on the Mexican government website for some time, apparently in an effort to discourage travelers from bringing in electronic devices and selling them tax-free. But media reports about the tax, which was applied only occasionally and seemingly out of the blue to unsuspecting random travelers, have been calling attention to it—and citing tourists charged $190 to bring in their iPad as well as their computer—for the past few weeks. (Perhaps our own story helped bring attention to the issue; see Bringing a Laptop and an iPad to Mexico Can Cost You Hundreds of Dollars | Travel Research Online!)
“This was an old franchise regulation that no longer aligns with these times of technology, home office, in addition to the key tourism sector who travel to our destination to attend conferences, conventions and professional meetings,” Lezama said. “As a result of various uncomfortable and inconvenient situations detected at customs in the Cancun International Airport which have affected our destination’s image such as not allowing international and domestic tourists, as well as residents, to bring more than one device be it computer, laptop or tablet, we visited the area and reviewed the criteria used to allow tourists through customs and thanks to the support and consideration of the Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (National Customs Agency of Mexico), we reviewed the procedure to reactivate the tourists flow through customs and eliminate this criteria.”
