January 21 - Antigen tests for international tourists will be provided for free by most hotels in Riviera Maya. The head of the Playa del Carmen-Tulum tourist corridor says that the hotel industry will include the antibody tests at no cost.

 

The announcement was made by the president of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, Antonio Chaves Palomo, who said he was confident that the tourism situation will improve this year with the start of the Coronavirus immunization campaigns in various countries.

 

Chaves Palomo explained that they have signed an agreement with a chain of pharmacies that have already signed with hotels in Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres. The agreement will allow hotels around the state to apply antigen tests to tourists who need them to return home.

 

“Canada requests negative PCR tests 72 hours in advance. The test ranges between $100 and $150 per person, which slows the Canadian market’s travel intent,” he said adding that “as of January 26, a negative Covid-19 test will also be mandatory to enter the United States, a country that will accept the antibody test instead of the PCR.”

 

He pointed out that 80 percent of the more than 400 hotels in Riviera Maya will provide the antibody test free of charge. Toni Chaves said this will significantly reduce costs, taking into account that a PCR costs on average between $100 to $150 dollars, while the antigen test costs around $10.

 

“More and more hotel chains are including the antigen test in their rates at no additional cost, which speaks of the great commitment of the industry to demonstrate that we are a safe destination and with the capacity to meet the sanitary standards of our main markets” he said.

 

 

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