Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Sept. 12, 2026 — Mexico’s national hotel association on Friday opposed a proposed 35.8% increase in the federal fee paid by many international visitors beginning in 2027.
The 2027 federal economic package would raise the fee from 983 pesos to 1,334.80 pesos per qualifying visitor. Congress must approve the change before it can take effect.
The Mexican Hotel and Motel Association said the higher charge could weaken Mexico’s competitiveness. It also objected to the absence of funding reserved for international tourism promotion.
How the increase would reach Puerto Vallarta
The proposal would add 351.80 pesos to the federal charge for each covered visitor. A family of four would pay an additional 1,407.20 pesos.
Foreign tourists flying into Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport on Carretera a Tepic would not pay the fee at an airport booth. The current Federal Rights Law requires international airlines to collect and remit it.
The charge is separate from an airport-use fee or a hotel lodging tax. It is a federal immigration fee for foreigners entering as visitors without permission to work.
Mexican citizens and travelers holding valid Mexican temporary or permanent residency are exempt. Airline guidance on the DNR instructs those passengers to present a Mexican passport or residency card.
That distinction is significant for Puerto Vallarta’s foreign-resident community. Many expatriates living here would not owe the charge, although visiting friends and relatives could.
The debate arrives as the local tourism industry confronts weaker air traffic. International passenger volume at Puerto Vallarta airport fell 26.3% in August compared with the same month last year. That decline predates the proposed 2027 fee and should not be attributed to it.
How the proposal would divide the revenue
The federal proposal would direct 50% of DNR revenue to the Defense Ministry, down from 67%. The federal treasury would receive 24%, compared with 33% now.
The remaining 26% would go directly to the National Migration Institute. The government says that money would support border controls, biometric equipment, video surveillance, information security and additional immigration personnel.
Our review of the published allocation found no specific share for Puerto Vallarta or international tourism promotion. The proposal also does not divide the immigration funding among individual airports.
The federal government reported collecting about 22.5 billion pesos from the fee on air arrivals in 2025. It said Mexico recorded about 49 million international tourist entries that year, 5% more than in 2024.
Officials argue that growing visitor numbers have increased immigration workloads and technology costs. They also say the higher rate would prevent reductions in the amounts received by the Defense Ministry and treasury while adding money for immigration services.
Hotel groups press Congress
The Mexican Hotel and Motel Association expressed “total disagreement” with the increase in a statement reported Friday.
The association, led by Miguel Ángel Fong, represents more than 6,800 establishments through 99 affiliated associations. It argued that higher visitor costs could affect tourism investment and employment.
The organization acknowledged that immigration services need adequate funding. However, it said modernization should not be financed in a way that could make Mexico less competitive.
A separate objection from the Caribbean Mexican Hotel Council provides additional support for the industry’s opposition. The council asked federal officials and Congress to reconsider the increase.
That council said the DNR was approximately 861 pesos in 2025. With the proposed 2027 rate, it would have risen nearly 55% in two years.
Both organizations called for part of the revenue to be assigned to tourism promotion. Neither group published demand modeling with its statement showing how many visitors might change their travel plans.
Tourism secretary defends the increase
Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez said she did not expect the higher fee to reduce international arrivals. She argued that improved immigration processing would benefit travelers.
“We cannot keep leaving an airport with hours-long lines,” Rodríguez said while defending the proposal Thursday. She cited inadequate technology, staffing shortages and long immigration waits.
The proposal was submitted to Congress on Sept. 8 as part of the 2027 economic package. Until lawmakers approve a change, the statutory 2026 charge remains 983 pesos for covered visitors.
