Background on the Situation
In Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, the local government has announced an update to the tax assessment tables, which has raised concerns among hotel and business sectors. The proposed changes are expected to result in property tax hikes ranging from 2,000% to 5,000% in certain areas of the municipality.
The Call for Dialogue
Estefanía Mercado, the mayor of Playa del Carmen, highlighted an injustice through her social media message: “Did you know that a luxury oceanfront hotel in Playa del Carmen has paid as little as 50 pesos per square meter for 12 years, while a home in Villas del Sol pays up to 1,200 pesos per square meter? We are correcting this injustice by updating the tax assessment values fairly and responsibly.”
Toni Chaves, president of the Riviera Maya Hotels Association, responded by calling for dialogue with the mayor. He pointed out that the current low levels of tourism in Quintana Roo make it an unfavorable time for such significant tax increases.
Chaves emphasized that while they support updating the tax assessment tables, they oppose the proposed 2,000% to 5,000% increases in property taxes. Instead, they propose adjustments based on the previous year’s values plus the inflation rate (IPC).
Additional Perspectives
Miriam Cortés, president of the Quintana Roo Vacation Clubs Association, urged against perpetuating a negative narrative pitting hotel owners against the local population. She stressed the need for clear information regarding the extent of tax assessment updates, as the available data is insufficient to accurately determine the increases.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? The Playa del Carmen government plans to update tax assessment tables, which could lead to property tax hikes between 2,000% and 5,000% in certain areas.
- Who is concerned? The hotel and business sectors, including the Riviera Maya Hotels Association and the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, are expressing their concerns.
- What do they propose? They advocate for a more moderate update based on the previous year’s values plus inflation, rather than the drastic proposed increases.
- What is Miriam Cortés’ stance? She calls for avoiding a negative narrative and emphasizes the need for clear information about the tax assessment updates.
