Q. Is Mexico an unsafe place to travel?

Mexico ranks tenth as an international travel destination in the world and is the number one international tourism destination for North Americans traveling abroad. Many tourists to the country are repeat visitors, which demonstrate that the vast majority of tourists are satisfied and leave with overwhelmingly positive impressions. 

Nevertheless,  visitors  to  any  destination  in  the  world  should  exercise  caution  and common sense, and the same holds true when traveling to Mexico.

Q. With  the  travel alert  issued by  the US State Department cautioning  that even travel  within  the  country  beyond  the  border  is  dangerous.  Should  I  just  avoid traveling to Mexico completely?

No, common sense and proper precautions must be taken when traveling anywhere in the world,  and Mexico  is  no  exception. Whether  traveling  on  the  border  or  if  you  find yourself in another area of the country, stick to high-traffic businesses and tourist areas; be aware of your surroundings, chart your course before-hand, and your stay should be a memorable and  safe experience. Mexico’s  frontier,  like many other  frontiers  in other countries, at times experiences certain conflicts. Those visiting or crossing border cities should do so while taking the proper precautions.  

Q: But  then what  do  you make  of  the U.S. State Department  cautioning  against travel to the border due to infighting among drug cartels?

The  recent  isolated  incidents  involving  drug  traffickers  have  prompted  U.S.  and Canadian  authorities  to  suggest  travelers  exercise  extra  caution when  visiting  certain border towns. It is important to note, however, that this temporary announcement does not advise travelers against visiting our many safe tourist destinations.  

In  fact,  Leslie  Bassett, Deputy Chief  of Mission  of  the U.S.  Embassy  in Mexico City, declared  that  the  intention of  the alert  is  to  inform of  the punctual violent acts  that are taking place in specific states of Mexico as well as in other nations. She clarified that in no way does this alert seek to negatively portray the tourist destinations

Q. Shouldn’t everyone just avoid going to Mexico, with everything that is going on with the crime and drug dealers?

More  than  22.6 million  international  tourists  visited Mexico  in  2008  representing  a  5.9 percent  increase  compared  to  2007  out  of  that  the  number  of  tourists  who  suffered accidents were minimal. 

Mexico  is  the  tenth  most  visited  tourist  destination  in  the  world  and  is  a  very  large country  with  many  safe  destinations  to  visit  and  enjoy.  As  the  country’s  promotion agency, the Mexico Tourism Board recommends visitors to contact our many offices for more information on the destination they are planning to visit.

Q. Is the drug situation out of control in Mexico, and should international visitors be concerned?

Drug dealing and possession are a social problem that every nation faces, and Mexico is no exception. Fortunately,  in Mexico and elsewhere,  the violence associated with drug trafficking is isolated in cities that are far away from tourism destinations. 

The  possession  and  consumption  of  drugs  are  illegal  in Mexico,  and  the  country  has strict  laws  governing  these  offenses.  Perpetrators  are  punished  with  harsh  fines  and prison sentences in Mexico. Visitors can be confidant that local authorities are working hard to apprehend all those who violate the law to bring them to justice.

Q.  We  are  worried  because  what  if  something  does  happen?  Will  emergency services be able to help? 

Federal  and  local  governments  are  constantly  working  on  improving  emergency services, not only for tourists but for locals. Visitors should take precautions if they have any pre-existing medical needs and speak to their doctors before they travel abroad. We are also working on  raising  the bar  in our  standards  to  that our guests are  kept  safe, such as de-legalizing open bars in areas known as spring break destinations.

Q. Reports of drug violence  in Mexico have been widely circulated.   Have  these stories affected tourism to the country?

These incidents have mostly taken place in some border cities and have not affected the decision of tourists to travel to Mexico, which received thousands of tourists in the past months.  More than 22.6 million international tourists visited Mexico in 2008 representing a 5.9 percent increase compared to 2007. 

In addition, and according  to  the  central Bank of Mexico, border  tourism  increased 11 percent, compared to 2007.

Mexico is the number one most popular international tourism destination for Americans, with  more  than  18.34  million  US  visitors  in  2008.  Tourism  revenues  increased  4.6 percent in 2008 compared to 2007 to almost 13.2 billion dollars. 

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