Amatur proposes eliminating customs luggage inspections in Mexico

Sergio González Rubiera, president of the Mexican Association of Inbound Tourism Agencies (Amatur), is calling for the elimination of physical customs inspections for luggage at airports, specifically citing the Cancún International Airport. He argues that the current double-check system—where passengers undergo additional scrutiny after collecting their bags despite previous X-ray screenings—causes unnecessary delays and negatively impacts the tourist experience.

González Rubiera noted that while migration processes at Cancún have improved due to increased staffing and better service, the customs process remains problematic. He attributed these inefficiencies to high staff turnover, particularly among personnel transferred from the Armed Forces, which hinders the accumulation of experienced staff. He suggested that if legal changes are required to remove these physical checks, the initiative should be led by the federal executive or legislature to maintain security without generalized physical inspections.