Mahahual, Q.R. — A highway security filter at the entrance to Mahahual in Costa Maya is being planned. Tourism authorities say tax money collected from cruise ships will be channeled into Mahahual for the municipal project.
According to Omar Govea Hernández, the Undersecretary of Tourism of Quintana Roo, the Non-Resident Right (DNR) tax applied to cruise ship passengers will translate into visible projects for the town.
A majority of the funding from the collected Derecho de No Residente (DNR) taxes will be used to build a highway security arch at the access to Costa Maya. Money from the same tax fund will also be used to rehabilitate community roads.
“We believe that this year will be the year when several projects can be completed that will improve the tourist infrastructure of the destination including the construction of a security checkpoint on the access road to Mahahual,” said Govea Hernández.
The construction of a security arch is being planned at the Cafetal-Mahahual highway junction, a strategic point that will operate as a control filter and identify the main access to the Grand Costa Maya coast.
“Work was done last year so that in 2026 we can consolidate projects in the coastal town with street repairs and access improvements,” he explained.
This year, the state estimates it will collect around 500 million pesos from the DNR, money that comes $5.00 USD at a time through cruise passengers stopping at Cozumel and Mahahual.
That tax is collected by cruise ship companies and passed along to the state. That money is then used to strengthen infrastructure and services in both tourist destinations.
Approximately 70 percent of the cost of the Costa Maya highway arch will be paid for from DNR money collected by the state.
According to Govea Hernández, construction of the security arch at the Cafetal-Mahahual junction has already been approved. He says they intend to start building during the second half of this year.
In February, a long-time Mahahual seaside business closed its doors due to insecurity. On February 5, El Faro Restaurant and Beach Club announced their permanent closure saying they closed due to “external circumstances that put our safety and that of our team at risk.”
