Visitors heading to Cancun can now breathe easy as they will no longer face hefty customs fees for bringing more than one laptop or tablet in their bags.

On Friday, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama shared via a Facebook video that Cancun International Airport, the busiest in Mexico, has abolished a longstanding tax for incoming travelers who bring more than one piece of portable computer equipment, including laptops and tablets, when passing through customs, effective immediately.

Governor Lezama stated in the video:

We identified several issues at Cancun International Airport concerning the fees charged to our residents and tourists, leading to a negative perception of the destination and discomfort for visitors. This meant tourists were not allowed to bring in personal equipment exceeding one laptop and tablet. Therefore, we have decided to remove the fee imposed on passengers bringing a computer and a tablet into Cancun International Airport.

Previously, travelers faced a tax of 19% on the second device’s assessed value, which could be as much as $4,000, according to the General Rules for Foreign Trade regarding Baggage and Passenger Allowance in Mexico. Although this law has existed for years, it was enforced inconsistently, experts noted.

In June, Tammy Levent, the CEO of Elite Travel Management, paid a $200 fee for an older iPad during a work trip to Cancun. She recounted that it was the first time she had been charged for carrying both a laptop and an iPad in numerous visits over the last ten years. To her, it felt like “extortion,” she explained to YSL News.

“If someone travels on a business trip, say for a pharmaceutical company, they can’t just say, ‘You can’t bring your iPad.’ And how is the tax covered? Is everyone expected to pay $200 extra?” she expressed.

Levent voiced her concerns to Mexican officials, including the Cancun Customs Administration, but felt like her efforts were in vain. She contacted tour organizers and hotels she collaborates with in Cancun, and they supported her by also reaching out to officials to advocate for the tax’s removal.

“After receiving concerns about this issue from Tammy Levent, President of Elite Travel, we at Bookolis – a boutique Destination Management Company in Mexico – quickly involved official associations, such as AMATUR (Mexican Association of Receptive Tourism Agencies), under President Sergio Gonzalez’s leadership,” Frank Coulier, president of Bookolis, told YSL News in an email.

Coulier elaborated that AMATUR worked with various official and governmental organizations that played crucial roles in discussing the matter with the National Customs Agency of Mexico. “We sincerely thank Tammy for shining a light on this issue,” he commented. “We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to Governor Mara Lezama for her swift and impactful response in addressing this problem.”

The governor recognized in her video that the tax was outdated and did not meet the needs of modern leisure or business travelers coming to Quintana Roo for conferences.

After sharing her experience in September, Levent reported receiving numerous messages from fellow travelers unaware of the law, many of whom ended up paying hundreds at customs. “Nobody was talking about it,” she remarked.

With the news of the tax being lifted, Levent encourages others to “be the voice for change.”

(This article has been updated to reflect new information.)