A proposed new tax of US $42 per cruise passenger, scheduled to take effect in 2025, has been postponed by President Claudia Sheinbaum after strong backlash from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents. Both organizations voiced concerns that the tax could significantly impact cruise ship ticket sales, potentially hurting Mexico’s economy and the livelihoods of residents in coastal cities like Los Cabos, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.
The FCCA highlighted the ripple effect such a tax could have, noting that fewer passengers could mean reduced spending in local businesses, from restaurants to souvenir shops. Coastal cities rely heavily on the influx of cruise visitors, who may not stay overnight but still contribute to local economies through day trips and excursions.
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Interestingly, cruise ship passengers were already exempt from the standard US $35 tourist tax because they do not spend the night on land. The introduction of an additional US $42 fee raised eyebrows and fueled heated debates about its potential impact on the tourism sector.
For now, the tax has been put on hold, but this issue isn’t going away. Stay tuned as we watch how this debate unfolds and its implications for Mexico’s booming cruise industry.
