Proposal to charge $5 tax on tourists landing in Colón

A proposal to impose a $5 landing tax on tourists arriving in Colón is currently under review by the district's Municipal Council. Councilman William Sánchez of Nueva Providencia introduced the initiative, aiming to generate revenue for strategic municipal areas.

The proposed funds would be allocated to enhance security services and surveillance systems, with an additional 30% earmarked for promoting Colón as a tourist destination and improving its urban aesthetics. "When we travel abroad for tourism, we know we have to bring extra money and pay taxes. What we propose is a landing tax intended for surveillance and to beautify the city for tourism," Sánchez explained during the project's presentation.

Local business figures have expressed varied opinions. Amudi Omais, a businessman, sees no issue with the tax on visitors, noting that domestic tourists already pay fees for access to beaches and historical sites. He stressed the importance of transparency and ensuring the funds are demonstrably invested in Colón's tourism sector and quality of life, especially given the current downturn in provincial tourism.

However, the commercial sector remains cautious. Lissy Jované, president of the Colón Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the need for thorough technical studies to assess the tax's economic impact. "We need to analyze with black and white numbers, with a sharp pencil, what the economic impact on Colón will be of this type of tax, lest it have the opposite effect," she warned. The project has been forwarded to the Colón Municipality's Finance Commission for evaluation and subsequent debate.