Ok, I will admit it, like so many other international tourists I have not been paying Quintana Roo’s VISITAX fee since it was established in 2020. Up to this point there has been no enforcement of paying this tax, so I figured I could get away with not paying it.
No more getting away with not paying, according to Mr. Tim Scurry who is the founder and executive chairman of Travelkore, a company Quintana Roo has hired to implement the collection of VISITAX fees. According to Mr. Scurry, international tourists only have about four weeks before Cancun airport staff will start asking departing tourists if they have their VISITAX QR code; if you don’t have it, you may not be able to board your return flight until you’ve logged onto the official VISITAX website and paid your fee.
What the heck is VISITAX you may be asking…VISITAX only applies to the state of Quintana Roo which comprises the areas of Cancun, the Riviera Maya, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere south of the Riviera Maya, some inland areas of the Yucatan Peninsula which house archeological ruins such as Coba, as well as the islands of Holbox, Cozumel, and Isla Mujeres. Most international tourists flying into the Cancun airport vacation in either the Cancun or the Riviera Maya areas. (When the Tulum airport is finished and in operation, the collection of VISITAX will also be implemented at that location as well). This tax was established to maintain and improve the areas most frequented by tourists–here is a quote as to what this fee will be used for:
- “VISITAX is a fee…to mitigate the impact on the beaches and natural reserves of the State and to contain sargassum”.
There is some confusion about exactly how much this fee will be. Various sources quote as little as $11 USD p/person to $19.90 USD–this fee is p/person, no matter what age. Even infants are supposed to incur this fee, so parents bringing their families will have to pay for all family members, not just the adults in their party.
The best time to pay this fee is prior to your departure for Cancun. I have had some tough times connecting to WiFi at the Cancun airport on my many visits there, so I wouldn’t count on smooth sailing if you wait until you get to the airport to pay right before your flight home. Of course you can pay the fee while staying at your resort or hotel by using their WiFi, but why risk unsecured networks or worrying about whether or not you will encounter a problem paying the fee while on vacation…I don’t know about you, but I enjoy vacations more when there isn’t any impending “business” or potential problem hanging over my head.
Below is a video done by one of my favorite videographers, 3 Days 3 Noches, about this very matter of VISITAX. In it she interviews Mr. Scurry, and what he has to say is very informative. Take a look and let me know what you think of this new visitor’s tax!
Oh, yes, I almost forget this crucial tidbit, the official website to pay your VISITAX is www.visitax.gob.mx/.