PUERTO VALLARTA, Jalisco, Sept. 17, 2026 — Hotel associations in Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas asked Congress to reconsider a proposed 35.8% increase in Mexico’s foreign-visitor fee for 2027.
The proposal would raise the Derecho de No Residente, or DNR, from 983 pesos to 1,334.80 pesos. That would add 351.80 pesos for each eligible traveler.
Our review of the federal bill filed Sept. 8 found that the increase is not yet law. It would take effect in 2027 only if Congress approves it.
Impact for Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas
Foreign leisure travelers flying into Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport would face the higher charge. The airport sits beside Marina Vallarta and the Las Juntas gateway to Bahía de Banderas.
Under the current Federal Rights Law, international airlines collect the DNR from foreign passengers arriving by air. Mexican passport holders and travelers with qualifying Mexican residency documents are exempt.
At the proposed rate, a family of four would pay 5,339.20 pesos. That is 1,407.20 pesos more than the current combined charge, according to PVDN’s calculation.
The Asociación de Hoteles de Puerto Vallarta y Bahía de Banderas and the Asociación de Hoteles y Moteles de Bahía de Banderas raised their objection.
“Raising the cost of entry will cause travelers to choose competing destinations,” the groups said. PVDN translated the quotation from Spanish.
The associations argued that airfare, airport charges, fuel costs, lodging and transportation already shape destination choices. They linked international arrivals to hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, local spending and tourism employment.
International passenger traffic remains lower
The hotel groups raised their objection as Puerto Vallarta’s international passenger market remains below its 2025 level.
The August traffic report from Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico recorded 2.18 million international passengers at the airport from January through August. That was 19.7% below the 2.71 million recorded during the same period of 2025.
The difference was about 534,400 international passengers. Total airport traffic declined 12.4%, while domestic passenger traffic fell 3%.
August alone brought a 26.3% year-over-year decline in international traffic. The airport handled 119,200 international passengers during the month, compared with 161,800 in August 2025.
The GAP figures measure passenger movements, not hotel stays or unique visitors. They nevertheless document the weaker international market cited by the hotel associations.
The decline has already influenced local tourism planning. PVDN reported in August that Puerto Vallarta and Jalisco officials were developing monthly events to attract more Mexican travelers as international demand weakened.
Federal proposal changes the revenue split
The federal bill says the higher fee would bring the charge closer to the operating costs of the National Migration Institute. Those costs include service coverage, quality, and demand.
The proposal would also change how DNR revenue is distributed.
Current law directs 67% of the revenue to the Defense Ministry for purposes connected with state-owned companies under its authority. The remaining 33% goes to the federal treasury without a designated use.
Under the 2027 proposal, the Defense Ministry’s share would fall to 50%. The National Migration Institute would receive 26% for border-security and migration-control technology. The remaining 24% would go to the treasury without a specific allocation.
Hotel organizations have asked the federal government to direct part of DNR revenue toward tourism promotion. They contend that attracting more visitors would produce broader revenue through lodging, restaurants and other services.
Hotel groups in the Mexican Caribbean and Los Cabos have raised similar objections to the proposed increase, making the dispute a national tourism issue rather than one limited to Banderas Bay.
The Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas associations requested a technical review with Congress, the Finance Ministry and the Tourism Ministry before the increase is approved.
