Quintana Roo’s New Tourism Tax Starts April 1

On April 1, international travelers visiting Quintana Roo will be required to pay a new tourism tax. According to Mexico News Daily, travelers will pay to visit popular destinations across the state like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel and the amount may vary between $10 and $38 based on how and when you pay it.

Travelers can pay ahead of time on the VISITAX website, where the cost is $38. If the tax is added to a vacation package booked by a travel advisor on VAX or paid at the airport, it will cost about $10. The payment is required for all international visitors over 4 years old.

“It’s expected to be an agile and simple transaction that won’t complicate visitors’ stay,” said Rodrigo Diaz, director-general of the state tax administration.

The new tourism tax was implemented to help fund more development within the tourism industry across the state. This mainly consists of generating tourism jobs and economic centers to make their state a strong visitor attraction. Governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez proposed the tax and it was approved by the state congress last year. It was originally estimated to generate $43.6 million but with the delay of the tax’s implementation because of COVID-19, it was reduced to $29 million in 2021.

For travel advisors: You can add this to a traveler’s itinerary on VAX (if you do not see it automatically added); not the actual payment, but some info, a reminder and a link for the travelers to pay ahead of time if they wish. Look for the VISITAX Feature and add it to any packages with a destination of Cancun or Cozumel. If this feature is added to a package, once the vacation package is purchased, travelers will receive their travel itinerary with a website link where they can make the payment online.