Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Tourists arriving in Quintana Roo with specialized diving equipment will be better served. Bernardo Cueto Riestra, the State Tourism Secretary, said progress was made during a recent meeting to strengthen customs staff training.
He said progress on agreements to strengthen staff training, establish direct communication channels between authorities and representatives of the sector, and generate clear information that facilitates processes and contributes to a better experience for those who arrive in Quintana Roo with specialized equipment to carry out diving activities was made during the Friday meeting.
The meeting was held as part of the follow-up with Customs authorities in Quintana Roo. The meeting was between the State Tourism and Cancun Customs authorities and representatives of the nautical and diving sectors.
According to Cueto Riestra, the goal is to strengthen institutional coordination and improving service to tourists entering the Mexican Caribbean with personal and specialized equipment for diving.
During the meeting, the characteristics of the equipment currently used by divers visiting the Mexican Caribbean were reviewed, including those intended for the exploration of caves and caverns, as well as specialized equipment for underwater photography and video.
Cueto Riestra stressed that coordination between authorities and the tourism sector is fundamental to addressing the particular needs of those who visit the state and to strengthening specialized segments of tourism activity.
“Diving is one of the great strengths of the Mexican Caribbean with more than half a million tourists coming to practice it each year.
“Our responsibility is to continue creating the conditions so that those who visit us can enjoy this experience in a simple, informed and safe way, and for this, coordination with the authorities is fundamental,” he said.
Cueto Riestra highlighted that Quintana Roo has a diversity of natural settings that position it as a reference destination for diving, from its marine ecosystems to the cave and cavern systems that are part of the natural wealth of the state.
According to Carmen Joaquín Hernández, President of the Cozumel Business Coordinating Council (CCE) on an island that attracts thousands of divers, the chambers of commerce and associations presented customs representatives with duty fee charge complaints received from tourists and local service providers.
She explained that new charges or interpretations regarding the entry of equipment could increase the cost of traveling to the island and negatively impact activities related to sports tourism.
Joaquín Hernández said island business leaders agreed with authorities to collaborate on a simple document detailing which items are considered personal luggage and can be brought into the country duty-free.
The new guide will outline the limits and procedures travelers must use, which will then be distributed to hotels, tour operators, and service providers to minimize confusion.
Joaquín Hernández maintained that the objective is to establish criteria that provide certainty to travelers before their arrival and prevent equipment used for sports, photography, or tourism activities from becoming an obstacle for traveling to Cozumel.
