Facing strong pushback from the travel industry in general, and the cruise lines in particular, Mexico has postponed a new $42 tourist tax on cruise passengers by six months, from January to July 1.

Mexico has long taxed hotel guests but exempted cruise passengers, who sleep on their ship. But a new bill that passed the Mexican Congress in December calls for a $42 tax on every cruise ship passenger entering Mexican waters, whether they disembark or not.

According to a statement issued by The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, which represents 23 cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian, Mexican officials have agreed to delay the new Federal Law of Rights tax on cruise passengers from January 1 until July 1, 2025. Among other things, the cruise lines had argued that just a 15% drop in calls to Mexico would result in a financial impact that would offset any gains from the tax.

In a statement, FCCA CEO Michele Paige emphasized that the temporary delay is helpful, but does not go far enough. “We thank the Mexican government for listening to our concerns and proposing a delay in the implementation of the tax that will fall mainly on American citizens. However, the removal of the in-transit tax exemption – which was provided to our industry over a decade ago for valid reasons that still apply today – was done without our prior input and after the legislation was passed. It is ironic that until this law was abruptly announced the industry was looking to grow business in Mexico, and now the opposite will occur.”

Designed to address Mexico’s enormous debt—and, some argue, to support its military rather than its tourism infrastructure—the tax will affect the more than 10 million passengers on 3,300 ships arriving in the ports of Cozumel—one of the world’s busiest ports, with 4 million visitors—as well as Costa Maya and Cabo San Lucas.

The cruise industry had strongly lobbied against it. The FCCA said in December that it was “completely caught off guard with last week’s unilateral decision to eliminate the long-standing in-transit exemption and efforts to fast-track this policy change without any dialogue with the industry.”

The group noted that the tax was a “staggering more than 213% increase over the average cost of a Caribbean port” that “could also jeopardize the cruise industry’s investments in the country, including billions in planned developments and other projects”—a serious threat given such planned projects as Royal Caribbean’s new private beach club in Cozumel and Perfect Day Mexico, for example.

As the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico continues to welcome more and more visitors each year, the government of Quintana Roo has taken a step towards ensuring the safety of these tourists who come to admire its spectacular cenotes. Cenotes are natural pits or sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. These fascinating geological formations have been an integral part of Mayan culture since ancient times, used as both water sources and sacrificial offerings. The “Ruta de los Cenotes” (Route of the Cenotes) is easily accessible from  Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Both organized tours and self-drive explorations are popular attractions among tourists visiting the Yucatán.

In order to protect these sites, Quintana Roo’s government has announced plans to regulate cenote tours and activities heading into 2023 more strictly. These measures include limits on how many people can enter and swim in each cenote at any given time, as well as restrictions on what kind of objects can be brought in. However, one of the most noteworthy rules is that visitors must always book their cenote tour with a qualified guide who will provide information about the local ecology and ensure everyone follows all regulations for swimming safely in these unique environments. Tour operators are required to obtain authorization from the Secretary of Environment before offering a tour with access to cenotes.

These new regulations come as a response to increasing concerns about overcrowding at some of Mexico’s most popular cenotes, where inexperienced swimmers often find themselves in dangerous situations or fail to respect local wildlife and vegetation. The goal is to keep everyone safe and also to help preserve these incredible sites for future generations by limiting human impact and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

The new rules come into effect in 2023, giving tour operators time to be added to the government’s list of approved guides and to adjust their services accordingly. In addition, tour guides will have access to special training courses offered by environmental authorities so they can better understand how best to manage groups while navigating this delicate ecosystem responsibly.

By regulating cenote tours near Cancun and other locations throughout Quintana Roo state, officials hope both locals and tourists alike will enjoy greater protection during their visits while also reducing negative impacts on this unique natural resource over time.

Most visitors to Mexico head straight to the country’s stunning beaches, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. However, there is an abundance of delights in store for those who venture beyond the beaches to Mexico’s beguiling magic towns. The Mexican tourist board has selected 132 pueblos to be included on a list of so-called ‘magic towns.’ Read the rest of this entry »