In an attempt to boost tourism, the Mexican state of Quintana Roo which includes popular beach destinations like tourism tax cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum, and Cozumel has added a new fee to visitors that is currently being enforced as they depart. The tax is called Visitax, and it is 224 Mexican pesos (approximately $11 USD). The tax is mandatory for travelers and must be paid online in advance or when they are leaving the destination. Proof of payment will then be emailed to the traveler. This must be shown to airport security before boarding the plane.
Although the 224 peso fee has been in place since April 1st, many tourists were unaware of it and were surprised when asked to pay at their departure. The travel industry is hoping this new tax will help to offset lost hotel revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. As demand for vacations picks up again, it is likely that other destinations will follow suit and add their own travel taxes.
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Typically, tourism taxes come from lodging and car rental companies but many travelers have been staying away from hotels during the pandemic. Girma explained that many governments are looking for ways to generate more reliable revenue. This is especially true for destinations that rely heavily on visitors to fill local restaurants, shops and attractions. Girma pointed out that some destinations are also considering adding additional tax dollars for regenerative purposes like education of local populations, environmental projects or even restoration of historic heritage sites.