The National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES) says that the Director of the Tax Department, Juan Hernandez, is wrong when he claims there is no differentiated VAT (ITBIS) for the tourism sector in other countries. CICOM reports that the organization pointed out that in the Caribbean region, Jamaica, Bahamas and Mexico (the Maya Riviera in the state of Quintana Roo) apply a different VAT, putting the DR at a disadvantage and that this has started to hinder future investment. The Executive Vice President of ASONAHORES, Arturo Villanueva, explained that the VAT rate in Mexico is 15% whereas only 10% is charged in the tourism sector. In the Bahamas, VAT is 6% but for tourism it is only 2.4% during the high season and 1.8% in the low season. The generalized VAT in Jamaica is 15% but the tourism sector only pays 5.9%. And recently, the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico passed a reform that would reimburse VAT to foreign tourists who make purchases in Mexico before going back to their country. This measure, which will come into effect on 1 July 2006, has the intention of fostering and promoting tourist activity. A lower VAT for the tourism sector is not exclusive of the Caribbean region. At least 12 European countries with a high impact of tourism use this system to maintain competitiveness and avoid the export of taxes.