New Government Environmental Fee for all Hotel Guests in Puerto Morelos

Are you traveling to Grand Residences soon? If so, we would like to share information about a new municipal tax that was introduced in Puerto Morelos on January 1, 2019. As part of its work to protect the environment, the Puerto Morelos Municipal Government has begun charging an Environmental Sanitation Fee to all hotel and resort guests in the district.
This new initiative applies to Grand Residences owners and guests. In accordance with Puerto Morelos Municipal Finance Law, the Environmental Sanitation Fee that will be charged to your account at check out is as follows:

Room: $24.18 pesos per night
Suite $24.18 pesos per night
Villa (2 or 3-bedroom) $48.36 pesos per night

This fee is not covered by the annual Club Service Fees for Grand Residences owners or by All-Inclusive or European Plan room rates.

What will the taxes be used for?
The proceeds from this new Green Fee will be used to contribute to environmental protection and sanitation initiatives in Puerto Morelos, such as:

• Beach cleaning
• Water treatment
• Waste collection
• Reduction of carbon emissions with LED lighting
• Reef conservation
• Coastal wetland management
• Reforestation and other programs geared towards making Puerto Morelos a sustainable destination

Why is an Environmental Tax needed?

The white sand beaches and coral reefs of the Mexican Caribbean are world-famous; its jungles and wetlands are home to rare species of birds and animals. Yet visitor numbers and population growth are outpacing public services and placing pressure on area ecosystems. More action is needed to improve water treatment and waste management for the health of the environment. The new Green Fees charged by the Puerto Morelos Municipal Government will be used for such programs.
In the Riviera Maya, the Solidaridad Municipal Government began charging an Environmental Sanitation Fee to all hotel guests in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding area in the fall of 2017. The Cancun and Isla Mujeres municipal governments have also announced a similar eco tax for hotel guests to be implemented this year.
Worldwide, popular tourist destinations ranging from Barcelona to the Maldives have implemented similar green taxes.