Mexican government to charge US$5 cruise passenger fee starting July 2025; fee will increase gradually to US$21 by August 2027 under agreement with Florida Caribbean Cruise Association

May 11, 2025 (CE Noticias Financieras) –

As of July 1, 2025 , the Mexican government will apply a new scheme for charging foreign cruise passengers who disembark at Mexican ports, after reaching an agreement with U.S. shipping companies. The amount will be lower than originally proposed and will be implemented progressively, as part of an understanding with companies in the sector to strengthen the presence of Mexican products in the industry.

Charge for Non-Resident Duty will be reduced and will be staggered.

The new scheme contemplates an initial charge of US$5 per passenger as of July 2025 , under the concept of Non-Resident Duty (DNR). This tax duty was approved by Congress in 2024 as part of the 2025 federal economic package.

Initially, the federal government had planned to charge US$42 per passenger, but the amount was resisted by the main cruise lines operating in the Caribbean and the Mexican Pacific. In view of this, the authorities decided to apply a substantial reduction and modify the implementation.

According to the new schedule, the charge will increase to 10 dollars in December 2026 , then to 15 dollars in the same month, and will finally reach 21 dollars per passenger in August 2027 . The final amount represents half of the value originally foreseen.

The agreement includes conditions to strengthen local consumption

In exchange for this reduction, the Mexican government requested a series of commitments from shipping lines operating in national waters, including Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean , affiliated with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA). The conditions were formally stated in a letter sent on April 2 by the Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez.

Among the agreements established is the increase in the consumption of Mexican products on cruise ships calling at Mexican ports. Shipping companies will have to commit to a minimum percentage of purchases under the Made in Mexico program as of 2025.

The goal is for cruise ships not only to use Mexican ports as a destination, but also to become an export platform for food, textiles, beverages and other goods made in the country.

Promotion of Mexican culture and handicrafts on board

Another of the conditions established in the agreement is the active promotion of Mexico in the communication channels of the shipping companies, both online and in their printed and audiovisual materials. The companies must also include spaces for Mexican handicrafts, textiles and folk art on board cruise ships, as well as in terminals and port areas.

In addition, shipping lines are expected to integrate growth metrics to measure the participation of Mexican companies within the cruise industry's supply chain. This would include everything from food to specialized services, with the purpose of expanding the economic benefits for local communities.

Monitoring of the agreement and institutional follow-up

In order to follow up on the agreed commitments, periodic working groups will be established, headed by the Mexican Association for the Attention of Tourist Cruise Ships (AMEPACT). This body will seek to ensure that the goals agreed upon in terms of promotion, supply and commercial collaboration are met in a verifiable manner.

The Mexican government believes that this scheme will benefit the country on two fronts: it will maintain the attractiveness of Mexican ports for the cruise industry and, at the same time, promote greater integration of the Mexican economy into the international tourism sector.

DNR Background and Negotiations with the Industry

The original proposal to apply a $42 per passenger charge was part of the tax package approved by the Mexican Congress at the end of 2024, which generated concerns among tour operators and industry associations, who warned of possible effects on the flow of international tourists.

The cruise industry represents a relevant source of income for regions such as Quintana Roo , Baja California Sur , Sinaloa and Jalisco , where the ports receive thousands of visitors monthly. The government was looking for a way to increase tax revenues through this activity, but encountered resistance from foreign companies.

The negotiation with the shipping companies and the adoption of a gradual collection scheme seeks to balance fiscal and economic interests, without affecting Mexico's attractiveness as a cruise destination in Latin America .