Cancun, Q.R. — The Mexican Association of Travel Agencies says they will stop selling tours to Chichén Itzá beginning next week after an unannounced 110 percent rate increase to enter the site.
The boycott remains in place despite an announcement by the Yucatán government to offer a special rate for the month of January.
“We are not going to sell Chichén tours as January 14. We do not expect the boycott to last all year, but if the boycott lasts a whole week or 15 days and we have managed to sit down and negotiate with the state government, the affectation will be only during this period,” explained Sergio González Rubiera, president of la Asociación Mexicana de Agencias de Viajes en Cancún.
On Friday, the Yucatán government announced that tickets purchased by tour operators before January 31 to enter Chichén Itzá will cost 242 peso, the same price as last year, and may be used during the first four months of 2019.
However, as of February, the price will be increased to 480 pesos for foreigners, leaving tour agencies to absorb the balance of the costs since many have sold packages a year in advance.
The boycott was announced in response to the dissatisfaction generated by the wholesalers of Quintana Roo. González Rubiera explained that the boycott is to create a working table with the Yucatán government to modify the tariffs for tour operators, calling the increase non-exponential.
Chichen Itza ticket prices are comprised of two fees, one by the National Institute of Anthropology and History and the other from the Government of Yucatan.