Consumer protection agency on guard against tourist abuse

Mérida, Yucatán — The tourist industry, from major airlines down to souvenir shops, are being monitored for irregularities.

The state delegate of the consumer protection agency Profeco, José Antonio Nevárez Cervera, stated airline delays and misplaced hotel reservations are among the biggest complaints his office receives.

Nevárez Cervera also cited shops that sell handicrafts at bloated prices, abuses that he said do a disservice to the Peninsula.

Profeco has been conducting night tours in bars and restaurants in Progreso and Chicxulúb, and a similar crackdown is planned next week in Mérida’s Centro Histórico.

Four restaurants along the coast have been penalized for menus that lack drink menus with adequate descriptions of alcohol content.

In June, at the start of the summer tourist season, 30 businesses were penalized for infractions, particularly price gouging. Fines are double what the tourist was charged for a particular item.

Profeco also scours the airport for passenger complaints. Despite agents there from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., so far they have found no irregularities at the terminal.

Source: Desde el Balcón