Cancun Airport Eliminates The Fee Associated With Multiple Electronics - What Travelers Need To Know

Officials in Cancun, Mexico have done away with a controversial rule that has been plaguing unsuspecting tourists arriving to the popular resort city.

In a video posted to Facebook on Friday, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama announced that tourists passing through Cancun International Airport will no longer be charged a fee for bringing more than one larger electronic device, including laptops and tablets.

The change is effective immediately.

"We managed to eliminate the charge for bringing more than one computer or electronic tablet into your personal luggage, within the #Cancun International Airport, with the support of Mexican Customs," Lezama said on her Facebook page.

"I am here to inform you that as a result of various uncomfortable and inconvenient situations detected at customs in the Cancun International Airport which have affected our destination's image such as not allowing international and domestic tourists, as well as residents, to bring more than one device be it computer, laptop or tablet, we visited the area and reviewed the criteria used to allow tourists through customs and thanks to the support and consideration of the Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (National Customs Agency of Mexico), we reviewed the procedure to reactivate the tourists flow through customs and eliminate this criteria."

"We had a roundtable with the Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México and as a result of this meeting and thanks to their support, the decision was reached to eliminate the criteria in place. This was an old franchise regulation that no longer aligns with these times of technology, home office, in addition to the key tourism sector who travel to our destination to attend conferences, conventions and professional meetings," added Lezama.

"We are thankful to the authorities for their sensibility and for listening with the goal to adapt to this new era, and beginning today, this charge has been eliminated for both National and International travelers."

Recent reports have been circulating of tourists being charged an average of $190 for traveling with multiple larger electronic devices.

Those unable or unwilling to pay the fee have had items confiscated by customs agents.

Tammy Levent, President of Elite Travel Group, has been vocal about her disconcerting experience with the rule earlier this year and went so far as to set up a time to meet with officials and share her concerns.

She believes her input was instrumental in bringing about these welcome changes for visitors to Cancun.

https://www.travelpulse.com/bio/patrick-clarke

Cancun Airport Project Successful In Reducing Entry Wait Times From Nearly 3 Hours To 7 Minutes

The entry of tourists arriving to Mexico has been expedited by the use of modern technologies. The Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico says these modern technologies in Cancun has made it possible to reduce wait times from nearly three hours to just seven minutes.

Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Marqués said in response to a demand from the sector, they have proposed modifying Article 35 of the Migration Law to allow the use of technological tools in all major airports to speed up the entry of tourists.

He explained that the reform was published in the DOF on April 29, 2022 at which time, a pilot project was implemented at the Cancun Airport. That pilot project reduced the wait from 2 hours and 45 minutes per person, to just seven minutes during peak hours.

Torruco Marqués said under instructions from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he was tasked with providing a solution to expedite entry into the country and avoid the recurring “bottlenecks” at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and Cancún, as well as those in Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana, which represent 90 percent of the in-bound arrivals.

Various agencies including the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, the National Migration Institute (INM) as well as the President of the Hotel Association of Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres, were asked to present the proposal to modify Article 35 of the Migration Law with the purpose of allowing the use of automated technological tools to expedite and facilitate entry.

This proposal was sent through the then president of the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, Luis Alegre Salazar (RIP), which was approved unanimously by both Chambers and published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on April 29, 2022, thus addressing a widespread demand from the sector for more than 25 years.

He indicated that from then, meetings were held with the INM to monitor progress, the Operation Manual was drawn up and the pilot plan was achieved at the Cancun airport where the wait was reduced.

He stated that starting in December 2022, the INM implemented Autonomous Migration Filters (FMA) at the International Airports of Mexico City and Cancun. Starting in May 2024, at the Los Cabos International Airport and at the Guadalajara International Airport starting in August 2024. They are also already operating at the Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

Torruco Marqués stressed the importance of an initiative from Sectur that has given way to modernity in the country’s airports, leaving only Tijuana, operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), and Monterrey, managed by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA), the latter being urged to implement these measures so that it is the same in all airports.

The Secretary of Tourism reported that, in 2023, the Cancun Airport received 10.4 million international tourists, being the main air destination in the country. From January to July 2024, 6.2 million international tourists arrived at the Cancun Airport, exceeding by 0.9% what was registered in the same period of 2023.

In turn, AICM received 4.2 million international tourists in 2023, reaching second place in the country.

In 2023, Los Cabos airport received 2.3 million international tourists occupying third. From January to July 2024, 1.4 million international tourists arrived. During 2023, 1.8 million international tourists arrived at the Puerto Vallarta airport, and from January to July 2024, it attracted 1.2 million.

In 2023, the Guadalajara airport received 1.3 million international tourists and 847,251 from January to July 2024.

The Secretary of Tourism emphasized that the modernization of technology to speed up the entry of international tourists to Mexico also translates into greater economic benefits and per capita spending, benefiting the local population and in compliance with the instruction of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to make tourism a tool for social reconciliation.

https://riviera-maya-news.com/category/travel

New Theme Park Opening In Cancun This March To Give Tourists A Unique Peek Into Mexican Culture

There is no shortage of things to do when visiting Cancun, where you can spend hours on the beaches, lay by the pool, explore Mayan ruins, snorkel, swim in a cenote, take a tour through the jungle, eat good food, shop, go to a club, and more. But while all of these activities are a lot of fun, most of them do not really give visitors much of a cultural experience. A new theme park opening in Cancun this March, though, will give tourists a unique peek into Mexican culture.

Luchatitlán – A Theme Park Dedicated To Lucha Libre

The new theme park, Luchatitlán, will be dedicated to the art of freestyle wrestling, Lucha Libre, which is popular in Mexico. The term Lucha Libre means “free fight.” The unique style of wrestling was introduced in the early 20th century and has been growing in popularity throughout the country since.

The Luchatitlán theme park project began back in 2021, with funding for the project provided by the Fibra Uno real estate trust. The trust provided 130 million pesos for the project, which is nearly 7 million U.S. dollars, that includes a space of more than 30,000 square feet. Within that, 30,000 square feet will be not only an arena that fits 580 people but also a food and beverage venue, a bar, or cantina, that fits 220 people, and a wrestling hall of fame.

The Purpose Of The Theme Park

While the main purpose of the new theme park is to provide entertainment for visitors and locals, it is also a way to promote Mexican culture. The general manager of Fibro Uno, Gonzalo Robina, explained this when he said that “The idea is to bring Mexican popular culture closer to international tourism that arrives in Cancun. It is designed to [attract] people who go to the beach and are looking for activities. Let everyone who visits this destination experience the verbena del ring.”

Luchatitlán Theme Park Location

The Luchatitlán theme park will be at the La Isla shopping village, located in the popular, bustling Cancun Hotel Zone on Kukulcan Blvd. The shopping village is an open-air complex that is home to unique clothing stores, restaurants, a movie theater, attractions, a tequila museum, and even a Hilton-branded hotel. There is also a giant ferris wheel located at the property that offers unbelievable views of Cancun and the Caribbean Sea.

Luchatitlán Theme Park Details

The Luchatitlán theme park will be open for business sometime in March, though an exact date has not yet been disclosed. There will be two afternoon shows every day, but the times have not been announced yet. Ticket prices will range between about $69 and $109 per show.

A Little About Lucha Libre

Lucha libre wrestling involves staged performances in which the outcome is already determined prior to the start of the performance. Wrestlers wear bright-colored masks that losers of contested matches must permanently remove, but otherwise, wrestlers keep their masks on whenever in public. Wrestlers, also called luchadores, are usually part of a larger extended family of wrestlers.

Mexican Lucha Libre was declared on July 21, 2018, as an intangible cultural heritage of Mexico City. The new Luchatitlán theme park in Cancun will be an honor to that cultural heritage that all who visit the city can enjoy.

Source: https://thecancunsun.com/