Why Some Tourists Pay More for the Visitax in Tulum

Tulum's fifth councilman, Eugenio Barbachano Losa, has called for the elimination of the Visitax, a mandatory fee for foreign visitors. He claims some online platforms charge up to 550 pesos for the official 285-peso fee, which he believes undermines the competitiveness of the Mexican Caribbean.

Barbachano asks the state to investigate the issue and clarify the discrepancy between different payment platforms. He also suggests removing the Visitax entirely to avoid the varying prices.

The Visitax has been in place since 2022 and is set at 2.5 UMA, an indexed unit used by Mexico. The state tax agency, SATQ, runs the official payment portal at visitax.gob.mx. Travelers who pay there receive a digital receipt for their departure.

Barbachano's complaint centers on the inconsistency between the official rate and the prices charged by different third-party websites. He believes this hinders transparency and suggests that interests might be behind the differing prices.

With state authorities having not announced any changes to the Visitax application, it remains mandatory for foreign visitors, with the official rate of 285 pesos.

This issue affects anyone who has visited Tulum and paid more than the official rate for the Visitax through a third-party website. The councilman's call for investigation and potential elimination of the fee highlights the concern over the Visitax's impact on the local tourism industry.