Canaco Juárez calls for regulation of guest houses

The National Chamber of Commerce (Canaco) in Ciudad Juárez is calling for the regulation of guest houses following a crisis in the local hotel sector. The chamber is collaborating with tourism organizations, including the ¡Ah Chihuahua! Tourism Promotion Trust and the Association of Hotels and Motels, to launch a campaign informing travelers about the differences and risks associated with guest houses compared to formal hotels.

The push for regulation comes after small local hotels experienced an occupancy drop of over 50 percent in the area near the U.S. Consulate, a decline attributed to the suspension of appointments for residency procedures. Canaco president Iván Pérez Ruiz stated that guest houses create unfair competition because they do not face the same labor, tax, licensing, and service fee obligations as established hotels.

Pérez Ruiz also urged the State Congress to advance specific regulations for these establishments, noting that some guest houses have been linked to security risks for visitors during periods of high migration, though he did not provide specific data to support these claims.