Mexican Government Urged to Define Stance on Cruise Taxes

Artemio Santos Santos, tourism secretary in the state of Quintana Roo –home to all major destinations in the Mexican Caribbean- called on the Federal Government to define its posture on the issue of taxes levied on cruise passengers, or at least to hand over the results of a poll conducted last year with a deadline ending in March.

Within the framework of the International Meeting of Marketplaces held at the Westin Regina Hotel, Mr. Santos noted the longer the response takes, the better for Mexico’s competitors in the Caribbean Basin.

High on the list of pending issues awaiting a response by the Federal Government are the tools to be implemented in order to pay back municipalities for the revenues they reap, all this in case the collection of tourist taxes were eventually passed.

The demand comes on the heels of similar claims wielded by Gabriel Mendicuti Loria, Carlos Hernandez Blanco and Eduardo Espinosa Abuxabqui, mayors of Solidaridad, Cozumel and Othon P. Blanco, respectively. Last January, the three local officials formed a “common front” in an effort to press the Federal Government to hear out their petitions.