They will apply to the same plan used to regulate Airbnb.
MERIDA – The growing use of hostel-type accommodations in Yucatan has aroused the interest of the Secretariat of Tourism Promotiont of the State Government (Sefotur), which plans to regulate and integrate them into the so-called “formal activity” of the local tourism industry.
These lodging centers are visited by backpackers and passers-by of medium economic level, who seek these type of accomodations in order to know the destination in greater depth and to spend less money during their stay.
(Photo: TripAdvisor)
The secretary of Tourism Promotion, Saúl Ancona Salazar, informed that this type of lodging service will be regulated with the same strategy that will be used by the state government to regulate Airbnb.
Ancona Salazar did not offer many details of this regulation plan that will operate in Yucatan, but admitted that it is a segment that has a dynamic growth.
Inititally, backpackers came to Merida by bus, their only luggage was a backpack and their accommodation was always a hostel. Now, this kind of travelers arrive by low-cost plane, bring suitcases and spend more time in the city for reasons of work and pleasure alike. Not all of them are backpackers now, but they are users of a higher economic level.
Ancona Salazar also mentioned that a natural backpacker’s visit route begins in Chiapas and ends up in Yucatan, and that more and more tourists of this segment are covering the route, which has led to a proliferation of hostels in the tourist cities of the State, mostly in Mérida.
The strategy used with Airbnb, consists of paying the hotel tax of 3%, registering guests on a platform and giving access to customer information to public safety authorities, among other obligations and rights.
Source: www.yucatan.com.mx
