Adjustments to the General Tourism Law would bring more bureaucracy: CNET

The eventual addition to articles 4 and 9 of the General Tourism Lawwith which a greater collaboration between federal and state authorities is proposed with the objective of guaranteeing the collection of local quotas and contributions, as well as the participation of the immigration and tax authorities has caused the disagreement of the private sector.

“These measures would bring higher administrative costs for hotels, with a greater relative impact on smaller establishments, which do not have the personnel and administrative structures to meet the increased demand for information and requirements. Likewise, it opens the door to possible extortion by some personnel who carry out said reviews”, considered the National Tourist Business Council (CNET).

In a statement, the body chaired by Braulio Arsuaga, stated that the sector has always been in favor of compliance with the Law and the obligations established therein, regarding the payment of quotas and contributions.

However, he made his position public regarding the possible legal change: We expressed our bewilderment that this reform was carried out without the concurrence and participation of CNET and its associated organizations, as it had always been done. Therefore, they ask that their opinion be considered.

The businessmen’s position was made known last week, after the November 4, in the Chamber of Deputies, unanimously with 478 votes, approved in general and in particular a draft decree by which They make the aforementioned additions, with which it passes to the Senate of the Republic for its constitutional effects (next Wednesday the Tourism Commission will hold a regular meeting where the issue will be discussed).

The initiative to add the two articles was presented on September 14 by deputies Carlos Alberto Puente Salas and Nayeli Arlen Fernández Cruz, from the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM).

“It is necessary for the entities to have more financial tools to gather resources in order to address the problems framed in the growth of tourism that derives in ecological and social impacts, and thus, continue with the provision of quality public services… in the understanding that the existing mechanisms lack schemes that guarantee the corresponding collection, for which an area of ​​opportunity is glimpsed for the federation to help”, argued the deputies.

As an example of collection practices, they mentioned that Baja California Sur charges foreign tourists a profit (400 pesos), who stay more than 24 hours in the town. It is estimated that from this tax 500 million pesos are collected that are destined to the Baja California Sur Sustainability Fund, which has the function of strengthening different areas such as social and tourist infrastructure, as well as public safety, education and housing. .