The Hotel Association of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres has expressed disappointment over the cancellation of an electronic visa plan for Brazilian tourists. This decision, they say, will negatively impact not only the Mexican Caribbean, but the entire country.

Despite the efforts of Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, the project will not proceed. The association's president, Jesús Almaguer Salazar, criticized the authorities for lacking the vision to welcome tourists and stimulate the national economy and job creation, particularly in the country's south.

Salazar suggested that diplomatic pressure from the United States played a role in the decision. He pointed out the inconsistency of the US position, noting that while American tourist fairs often have larger displays than Mexico, cities like Orlando and Miami are popular with Brazilian tourists.

He expressed regret that Mexican authorities did not manage to negotiate the same entry requirements for Brazilian visitors as the US. As a result, the association will continue to advocate for the implementation of the electronic visa, given the significant market it represents.

The plan to introduce the electronic visa has been cancelled twice, once in December and again in May. This has come as a significant blow, particularly given the enthusiasm of Brazilian companies.

Salazar estimates that the loss of Brazilian tourist flights over the first three months cost around 200 million dollars. Over a year, this figure could be as high as 1.2 billion dollars. This loss affects not just the federal government, but also the state, municipalities, citizens, and business owners.

Salazar, who also serves as president of the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council, said that around 50,000 Brazilian tourists were visiting the region each month. In response to the cancellation of the electronic visa plan, the Tourist Promotion Council (CPTQ) has launched a campaign targeting Brazilian tourists who already have a US visa, in an effort to attract them to the state.