Cruises to Mexico from Galveston may cost more as Mexico introduces a $42 immigration fee for cruise passengers, ending previous exemptions.
Cruise passengers traveling from Galveston to Mexican ports may soon face additional costs. Mexico’s Congress recently approved a $42 immigration fee for all cruise passengers docking in the country. Previously exempt, passengers were not charged due to their overnight stays aboard the ships and limited disembarkation during port calls.
Cozumel, Mexico’s busiest cruise destination, attracts approximately four million passengers annually. Critics, including the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents, warn the new fee could make Mexican ports among the most expensive in the world, reducing their competitiveness with other Caribbean destinations.
“If this measure is implemented, it would severely impact Mexico’s cruise industry,” the association stated, urging lawmakers to reconsider.
The fee, part of Mexico’s new budget law, allocates two-thirds of the revenue to the country's defense department. This decision has drawn criticism as funds will not directly benefit port infrastructure or tourism services.
The law reflects broader efforts by Mexico’s ruling Morena party to address budget deficits amid costly infrastructure projects. While aimed at increasing revenue, the move has sparked concerns over its impact on tourism.
Travelers and cruise operators alike are now watching to see how this fee might influence cruising in the Caribbean.
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