The president of the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur), Octavio de la Torre, assured that the decree to stop for 6 months the collection of the Visitor’s Right without permission to carry out remunerated activities (DNR), a “tax” on travelers arriving by cruise ship, dissipates any threat against the ports of Cozumel, Mahahual, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Ensenada, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Progreso and Cabo Saint Luke.
“We recognize the leadership of Claudia Sheinbaum, who has addressed a problem that threatened to discourage the arrival of cruise ships to Mexico, severely impacting communities such as Cozumel, Mahahual, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Ensenada, Puerto Chiapas, Puerto Progreso and Cabo San Lucas, where up to 90% of the visitors come from this activity,” said the leader of the small merchants.
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The businessman recognized the sensitivity and willingness of Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, to grant a fiscal stimulus to cruise passengers who enter the territory through a port. That is, it eliminated for 6 months the collection of the Visitor’s Right without permission to carry out paid activities for all cruise passengers.
The collection of the Visitor’s Right without permission to carry out remunerated activities could have generated a drop in the income of foreign currency in the sea ports of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stated the business leader.
In the first 6 months of 2024, cruise ship excursionists generated 4,098.3 million dollars. Applying this tax would have reduced this income and affected the local and national economy.
On December 31, 2024, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit reported that it would stop for 6 months the collection of 860.56 pesos (or 42 dollars) per Visitor’s Right passenger without permission to carry out paid activities.
“The decree represents significant relief for Mexican port communities, by granting a fiscal stimulus equivalent to 100% of the amount of the duty for foreign passengers entering by sea,” commented Octavio de la Torre.
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He stated that the measure applies from January to June 2025 and will offer peace of mind to merchants and small business owners who depend on cruise tourism.
On December 2, 2024, the organization issued its position regarding the collection of the Visitor’s Right without permission to carry out remunerated activities, while the confederate chambers located in various cities requested a detailed analysis of this proposal in order to avoid collateral damage to the local economy.
A week later, the chambers of commerce in Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel mobilized to show the effects of the DNR collection, in addition to the top organization holding a meeting with Josefina Hernández Zamora, Secretary of Tourism.
The official intervened to ensure that the decree to temporarily suspend the collection of the DNR from cruise travelers met the needs of the affected sectors.
The Secretary of Tourism promoted a balanced implementation of the collection of the Visitor’s Right without permission to carry out remunerated activities for cruise travelers to protect economic activity in ports and the flow of passengers.
There was also a dialogue with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, the governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama and of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila, as well as with the Secretariats of Tourism of the affected states such as Baja California to raise awareness about the impacts. that would be had, who intervened in a timely manner for this decree.
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“This decree generates peace of mind for merchants and reinforces the competitiveness of Mexican ports. We recognize the political disposition and open dialogue of the President and her team to address the concerns of the sector,” said Octavio de la Torre.
The president of Concanaco Servytur highlighted that the decree represents direct support for more than 185,000 businesses that depend on tourism in the country’s ports.
Prior to its implementation, it was essential to dialogue with shipping companies to guarantee that the measure was operational, efficient and did not hinder the flow of passengers in the ports.
Likewise, he mentioned that through the National Tourism Commission, various associations and civil organizations came forward to promote this measure through the leadership of the Confederation, which is not enough, but it postpones a situation that with dialogue and consensus can be achieved. evaluate its implementation.
“It was crucial to analyze how this right would be worked so that, as visitors, tourists could enjoy their experience without delays or logistical problems, which could have negatively impacted the arrival of cruise passengers and, with it, the economy of thousands of families who They depend on this activity,” he stated.
He indicated that, in addition, the additional cost could have diverted cruise lines towards alternative destinations in the Caribbean and Central America, significantly reducing the flow of visitors and merchants, tour guides, restaurateurs and artisans would have faced an abrupt drop in their income. , worsening economic inequalities in these regions.
