Mexico and Cruise Industry Forge Cooperation Agreement to Boost Tourism

Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) has announced a landmark agreement with the international cruise industry, following a series of interagency working sessions with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP), the National Institute of Migration (INM), and representatives of the cruise sector, including the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

Minister of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez Zamora reported that the agreement aims to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation to stimulate domestic tourism, activate local supply chains, and increase employment opportunities for qualified Mexican seafarers on international cruise ships.

Among the key commitments made by the FCCA, represented by its CEO Michele M. Paige, are:

• Collaborating with cruise lines to ensure retention and payment of the Non-Resident Fee (DNR) to the Mexican Government.
• Increasing the supply of Mexican-made products used on cruise ships.
• Promoting Mexico as a tourist destination through cruise lines’ communication channels.
• Highlighting Mexican folk art on voyages and at port facilities, while also promoting the acquisition of products under the “Hecho en México” (Made in Mexico) label.
• Participating in recruitment fairs and forging partnerships with educational institutions to train and potentially hire more qualified Mexican maritime personnel.
• Supporting statistical data collection and research related to cruise tourism at Mexican ports.

Rodríguez emphasized that this alliance presents a historic opportunity to deliver “Shared Prosperity” to host communities by creating formal jobs, encouraging local consumption, and showcasing Mexico’s rich cultural heritage to the world.

She also reiterated that tourism is a key pillar of Mexico’s economic development, and that close collaboration with the cruise industry helps boost investment, diversify tourist attractions, and enhance the country’s global visibility.

In this context, the Minister highlighted the decree issued on December 31, 2024, in the Official Gazette, which grants a fiscal stimulus for the Non-Resident Fee for cruise passengers arriving via maritime routes. To ease the economic impact on tourists, the government introduced a phased implementation of the fee as follows:

Fee Amount (USD) Period of Validity
$5 July 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026
$10 August 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
$15 July 1, 2027 – July 31, 2028
$21 August 1, 2028 – September 30, 2030

Finally, Rodríguez explained that this partnership is a major step toward a more inclusive, sustainable tourism strategy aligned with regional economic development in Mexico’s coastal areas.