Nearly two years after the signing of a tax agreement between the Zacatecas government and Airbnb, the company has failed to withhold or pay the Lodging Services Tax, nor has it provided statistical information on tourist arrivals in the state.
The Secretary of Tourism for Zacatecas, Le Roy Barragán Ocampo, acknowledged the difficulties in getting the company to comply: “We’ve had a tremendous struggle with Airbnb… we still can’t collect the tax, just like the vast majority of states in the country,” he stated in an interview.
The official recalled that the issue was addressed last January during the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) held in Spain, where he met with other state tourism secretaries.
“It’s still too late; they’ve been very resistant to paying the tax,” he noted, explaining that the complaint was supported by representatives from various states across the country.
According to data consulted on the platform itself, the number of lodging listings has increased in recent years. In the state capital and the municipality of Guadalupe alone, more than 900 accommodation options were offered during the last holiday period.
Barragán Ocampo emphasized that, in addition to the tax aspect, it is essential that the platform provide information about the conditions of the accommodations.
Currently, the lodging tax rate, to which the traditional hotel sector is subject, is 3% of the service price. According to the State Revenue Law, a collection of 11,273,000 pesos is projected for 2026.
The agreement for the payment of the tax was signed in July 2024 with Governor David Monreal Ávila, and also included the creation of a portal to track the number of visitors staying through this platform, with the aim of supplementing the official figures for the tourism sector.
Regarding this, the secretary said:
They have to tell us why. As a state, we have a responsibility to ensure that tourists are receiving proper care and that their accommodations meet health and safety standards.
Le Roy Barragán Ocampo, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Zacatecas
He also emphasized the need for accurate occupancy data to strengthen industry statistics and complete the figures for tourist arrivals in Zacatecas.
The Secretary warned that efforts will continue to ensure the company complies with the terms of the agreement:
We will exert significant pressure, or we will take further action.
Le Roy Barragán Ocampo, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Zacatecas
Source: oem
