Cruises: Mexico wants to introduce an entrance fee for each crocierist

A small revolution in cruise sector is about to happen. Let’s start from the news: Mexico partially approved a law that provides for the application of a fee of 42 dollars (39.90 euros) for each passenger who are aboard ships that dock in Mexican ports, regardless of the crocierist’s descent on the ground. A remarkable change, because usually Nothing is due from the companies to the port authorities if the guest remains on board For the time when the ship is moored on the quay.

Mexico is therefore preparing to adopt a real Immigration tax, from the amount of consideration not indifferent, which would entail more costs for cruise passengers

“In this case,” says Florida -Carbbean Cruise Association (FCCA) – the Association that with its lobby actions has brought the approval of the tax from 2025 to next year – “The measure in question could make Mexican ports among the most expensive in the worldnegatively influencing Mexico’s competitiveness as a destination for cruises ». According to the FCCA, in essence, this choice would cause a reduction of the touched ships in Mexican ports, with negative chain effects on the survey and consequent losses of economic benefits for various subjects, including local transporters, tourist guides and restaurateurs.

The reason for this tax

The main reasons behind the introduction of this tax are two. The first is, in fact, the Overurism. A recent study developed by Google and Deloitte – we talked about it here – provided that by 2040 Mexico will enter the top 5 of the most visited destinations in the world, also “by merit” or “because” – depending on the point of view from which you look at the thing – of the increasingly intense cruise traffic that is increasing Not only between Cozumel and Acapulco but all over the world. Second statesman, in 2023 there were 31.8 million global cruise passengers, but they are estimated that their number will grow until they reach 39.4 million by 2027.

The second reason is more contingent and It has to do with the need for a growing country such as Mexico to find funds for infrastructures. Normally, taxes paid by the cruise companies are used by the port authorities to improve ports; In this case, however, they would be used by the army to finance their staff and construction projects, such as railways and oil refineries, under the jurisdiction of the military.

Overurorism is a terribly serious problem

Waiting to understand if the corporate pressures of the FCCA will be able to change the fate of this tax in its revolutionary way, what is certain is that the thread that binds Overurism and cruise ships is destined to become increasingly robust and sometimes create twisted dynamics related to the many interests involved in the tourist exploitation of the cities.

They take Marseille and Barcelonatwo of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean. Both cities have, in recent years, decided to make life difficult for cruise companies, introducing increasingly stringent conditions to dock in its ports, including higher taxes or stringent requests on the sustainability of used fuels.

What might seem like a paradox – two cities suitable for mainstream tourism that want to limit tourism – actually has a logic. The taxes paid by the companies usually remain with the ports, which use them for their livelihood: very little, if not nothing, ends up in the pockets of the cities. These should enjoy the survey generated by cruise passengers, when they go down to the ground. It is not known, however, that most passengers have low added value for historic centers: these people They don’t sleep at the hotel, produce waste, clog attractions. It is no coincidence that some of the largest companies in the world are working to enter the control structures of the ports and have more say in the local strategies.

Will the entrance tickets limit Overurism?

Ports, cities, companies and tourists interact within a constantly evolving complex universe, intended to make cruise traffic increasingly intense. That’s why we are entering – we have already entered – in a phase in which the payment of a ticket or the introduction of a closed number to access certain cities will become indispensable for continuing the biting and run entrances.

However, it would be naive to say that these and other similar measures will be able to limit global tourism, because The nascent Indian and Chinese middle band will soon begin to travel all over the world. In 2040 tourists could touch 2.4 billion (against 1.46 billion in 2019): a disproportionate number, which will generate turnover never seen before for the sector.

We are facing A dog who bites his tail: On the one hand, the commitments are increasing, also by cruise companies, for more sustainable navigation. On the other, the growing number of travelers can only condition these balances in such a laboriously searched in negative.

Also because of the social networks, the path of “does not seem to be practicableTravel everyone, travel better “. For destinations that will contain the accesses, there will be others that will open their boundaries. If Mexico really discourages ships to dock in its ports, other destinations – the insiders speak, just to give an example of the Jamaica – They will opt for opposite dynamics, so as to attract more tourists.

Spread people on more numerous destinations: this has always been the formula of those who, in recent years, contrasted the Overurism. But now? Tourism has turned from a phenomenon for a few – think of the Grand Tour of the 19th century – To one thing for everyone. In short, tourism has turned into an industry. And the fault, perhaps, is also a little ours.