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Crime in Mexico: If deadly Mazatlan is out, how about Cancun?
Trying to hang on to it's self-proclaimed "No. 1 vacation destination in the Caribbean" title, Cancun is beefing up security reports USAToday.
"The safest people here are the tourists," Erandeni Abundis of the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau "We depend on tourism. We couldn't afford to lose it." Proactive Cancun has beefed up their web site too with clear, easy to find information and believable video content.
Indeed, tourism is a major factor in Mexico's economy. Cancun alone boasts 5.9 million international visitors last year, up over 400,000 from 2009. But with tourism numbers down, rather than whining about it like Mazatlan has, Cancun is taking clear steps to send a message of safety.
Tourists can now dial 911 for an emergency rather than a confusing local number, uniformed customs officers with assault rifles stand watch over visitors at the airport and a dozen highly-visible "tourist advisors" greet visitors, directing them to approved airport transportation.
Still, news of crime in Mexico, attacks on tourists and just general worldwide unrest in the travel sector has tour operators and tourism officials working overtime to set the record straight.
Funjet vacations flew hundreds of travel agents in to see first-hand the situation on the ground hoping to beef up bookings which should be strong right now. According to Funjet, "traffic to Mexico is challenged."
While colleges are on break, the beach is not packed. Hotel occupancy at 71% this week is down from a traditional 80+% at this time of the year reports the Cancun Hotel Association.
The up side of all this is that prices in Cancun are better than ever.
One major travel agency in Cancun laments: "every time this comes...less tourism and it causes Cancun to die slowly." reports 630ched.com adding "So, if you're dreaming of a spring break on the Mexican Caribbean but lack "mucho dinero", you might want to cash in on Cancun's misfortune."
Many have too. In defiance of a Texas Department of Safety warning to stay out of Mexico on spring break, college students are flocking to Cancun, the closest Mexico destination to the border with few problems reported.
"We haven't been beheaded," Archer, a 26-year-old dental assistant, says with a grin. "We've had no problems. People need to chill out."
Flickr photo by ItsVernon
"The safest people here are the tourists," Erandeni Abundis of the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau "We depend on tourism. We couldn't afford to lose it." Proactive Cancun has beefed up their web site too with clear, easy to find information and believable video content.
Indeed, tourism is a major factor in Mexico's economy. Cancun alone boasts 5.9 million international visitors last year, up over 400,000 from 2009. But with tourism numbers down, rather than whining about it like Mazatlan has, Cancun is taking clear steps to send a message of safety.
Tourists can now dial 911 for an emergency rather than a confusing local number, uniformed customs officers with assault rifles stand watch over visitors at the airport and a dozen highly-visible "tourist advisors" greet visitors, directing them to approved airport transportation.
Still, news of crime in Mexico, attacks on tourists and just general worldwide unrest in the travel sector has tour operators and tourism officials working overtime to set the record straight.
Funjet vacations flew hundreds of travel agents in to see first-hand the situation on the ground hoping to beef up bookings which should be strong right now. According to Funjet, "traffic to Mexico is challenged."
While colleges are on break, the beach is not packed. Hotel occupancy at 71% this week is down from a traditional 80+% at this time of the year reports the Cancun Hotel Association.
The up side of all this is that prices in Cancun are better than ever.
One major travel agency in Cancun laments: "every time this comes...less tourism and it causes Cancun to die slowly." reports 630ched.com adding "So, if you're dreaming of a spring break on the Mexican Caribbean but lack "mucho dinero", you might want to cash in on Cancun's misfortune."
Many have too. In defiance of a Texas Department of Safety warning to stay out of Mexico on spring break, college students are flocking to Cancun, the closest Mexico destination to the border with few problems reported.
"We haven't been beheaded," Archer, a 26-year-old dental assistant, says with a grin. "We've had no problems. People need to chill out."
Flickr photo by ItsVernon
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)
jim Mar 28th 2011 7:08PM
My girlfriend and I have traveled to Mexico extensively the last few years and my father used to live in Brownsville, Texas and I know what goes on there. We have personally banned Mexico from any further travel and suggest others do, also.
Killings and corruption is a small part of this out of control country, a large percentage of problems with American tourists go unreported ( yes, the media is in on it , also) and probably 60% of ALL Mexican citizens live in fear of drug lords, the military, the police, the government and general criminals.
I'm surprised the American government has not closed travel there and wonder how long before we will have to have our military to go there to restore order.
DO NOT TRAVEL THERE- YOU ARE RISKING YOUR LIFE!
Steve Mar 28th 2011 7:11PM
Hey, I have been living part time in Mexico for 3 years. I am from San Diego.
I have lived in Rosarito, Ensenda, Aculpulco and now Mexico City. My wife is a Mexican national and that is the reason why I live over here part time.
First off, driving in Mexico is extremely dangerous. I am seeing fatal accidents on the roadway, each and every week. And I do not drive that much either. It is estimated that ONLY about 20% of the drivers are licensed. The police know this and rather than give a citizen a ticket and tow their car for being unlicensed, they extort money from the driver.
I can speak from personal experience that police corruption is at its highest. And it is NOT getting better. I have been pulled over about 10 times in these 3 years, and each time I am asked to pay anywhere from $20 to $70 for a CS violation.
I get profiled from the police, who even pull me over for an equipment violation, such as a defective tail light. Most of the time, though I have been pulled over for speeding, which, I must admit, that I was, but I can assure you that I was going no faster than the other traffic with mexican national drivers. But, I get pulled over because I am a gringo driving a newer SUV.
It is common, for everyone to pay the police directly.
And the crime in every place is totally off the charts. Last year, my locked SUV got stolen overnight 1/2 block form the police station. Of course it did not get recovered.
And as far as Spring Break is concerned, in every town, especially the beach towns, I know for a fact that tons of "spring breakers" get arrested and what happens is that their buddies may "mordida" bribe money to get them out.
As far as crimes being investigated is concerned, if you report a crime, the vast majority of the time, the report goes nowhere. For example, when my car got stolen last year in Rosarito, I reported it to the uniformed police. They took my information, and then I notified my insurance company. 2 weeks later, I was told that NO stolen auto report was taken and I had to go there again and report it. It took me 3 months to get a copy of the report.
I can tell you tons of other corrupt police stories, and can probably write a book on it.
To sum all of this up.... Mexico is a beautiful country, the vast majority of the citizens are honest, but the governement and the police (Including the Federal Police) are seriously corrupt. The vast majority of the government officials are corrupt as well
I hope to be able to move my wife and her daughter OUT of Mexico within the next year.
IF I was a parent of a teenager or very young adult who is planning to travel to Mexico, I would do whatever I can to stop them.
HAG Mar 28th 2011 7:09PM
@ jaguignon...........JAJAJA ! YOUR LOSS BUDDY ! ONLY SEMEONE AS IGNORANT AS YOU CAN COMMENT ABOUT SOMEWHERE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ????
alan zed Mar 28th 2011 7:15PM
I am a Cop in NY. We went to Cancun in Oct of 2010 and stayed at Dreams great deal,
clean, friendly, and safe. Also went to market 28 with local Bus transportation, once again no problem. If you stay smart stay in groups in well lit areas you can reduce the odds of being a victim.
chas Mar 28th 2011 7:22PM
Only a nation of ignorants would be more concerned with waging wars 10,000 miles away while leaving their boarders unprotected. Within my life time there will be military action against Mexico. Do you think the hundreds of thousands of illegals will join the US or be an active rear guard against us? At the rate that they are having children (why not since medical care, food, and school are for free) they will be the majority in the South west within 20 years. That includes Texas and California, areas of our oil and crops. And you want to spend your American derived vacation dollars where?
Shame on you.
Kent Mar 28th 2011 7:50PM
A friend of mine is a pilot with a major carrier. Because of the problems in Mexico, schedules are being adjusted, so that as few crew members as possible have layovers. Those that have to spend the night are finding shorter layovers, usually at hotels near airports.
Management and the unions are worried about pilots and flight attendants becoming crime victims.
jancie Mar 28th 2011 8:20PM
Border towns are not safe. I would never go to them....but Mexico best tourist spots are safe. I love the people and feel safer there than in the USA large cities. I would go to PV, Mexico alone before I would go to New York alone.
The economy is down in the USA and that is why all travel is down. The airlines have raised their fees and are charging for suitcases...who travels without clothes? So unless SouthWest airline doesn't fly there....I have limited my travel on the other airlines. They are legally getting away with raping the passengers. So airfare may be $300 add taxes and bags and you are at $600.
Kent Mar 28th 2011 7:57PM
There was an interesting article in the WSJ back in '08 or '09 pointing out that the birth rate in Mexico is declining. Mexicans are figuring out what Americans figured out decades ago. If you have fewer children, you can afford to do more for them, including sending them to college.
Now, the way to higher incomes for Mexicans isn't leaving for the U.S., but rather, go to college and become a professional or go into the business world.
Within 15 to 30 years, cheap labor from Mexico will dry up. That leaves businesses in the U.S. with 2 choices. Find another source of cheap labor, and then deal with the immigration red tape, since illegal immigration is far more difficult, when there is no land border. Or, pay wages that native-born Americans demand.
sesl Mar 28th 2011 8:26PM
True paradise is the US Virgin Islands! Safe, secure, no worries 'mon'.
Also the Florida Keys, you will not be disappointed.
jaba Mar 28th 2011 8:03PM
My friend works for the feds (lives near the US/Mex. border), and has family in Mexico that she won't go to visit. According to her (and the daily updates that they get regarding the crime in MX), to travel there is not a good idea.
CAROL Mar 29th 2011 3:03PM
IMPEACH NOW. OBAMA IS A MURDERER AND A WAR MONGER.
AMERICA NEEDS JOBS NOT GOING INTO ANOTHER OBAMA WAR FOR NOTHING!
WE ARE GONNA GET KILLED AND GO BROKE FOR
DEMOCRACY OF LIBYA .
AS THE BLACK PANTHER LEADER SAID OBAMA IS A LIAR A MURDERER ATTACKING LIBYA BOMBING INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND NOT EVEN TELLING CONGRESS HE WAS GONNA DO IT!
HEY WHY DIDNT OBAMA RESCUE RAWANDA OR ANY NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED LIKE JUST YESTERDAY IN THE IVORY COAST WHERE MUSLIM MOBS MURDERED AND BEAT THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS? OBAMA IS A ROTTEN MURDERER THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR INVADING LIBYA HE IS NOT THE KING OF THE WORLD AS HE THINKS HE IS
cb Mar 29th 2011 2:17AM
BIA...TCH....PLEASE....
RICHARD Mar 28th 2011 8:16PM
My wife and I went to Cancun several times in the 90's and had a great time but the last time which was in 2005 My son and I were stopped by the local Police because they said we were speeding even though cars were passing us. They asked for my drivers license then told me for $ 100.00 I could have it back. I was there supporting the economy and got blackmailed for it. We will never go back.
jancie Mar 28th 2011 8:21PM
true story:
PV Mexico a police man pulled us over. I was in back seat. My husband driving. He asked for $30 or he would keep the DL and we would have to go to the station to pick it up the next day. My husband started to give him the money...I said WAIT A MINUTE. I want your name, I want you to take us to your station, because I know what you are doing is illegal. So if you like your job, you better NOT take that money. He handed the license back to husband and said have a good day.
It is illegal for the police to scam you in Mexico so if you are safe in a town...call them out on it. They will be fired. The police and government can only clean up what they know about. People are too afraid to report it. They got us once...I will be dang if they get money from us again.
I am not stupid enough to think this would work when driving between cities but there are bad police all over the US us filled with power pleasure police that like to push their badge around. I had a power trip happen to me in Memphis. That policeman actually asked me where I worked, why I was female and driving alone, if I was married, why my husband 'allowed" me to drive alone from state to state and he pulled me over for no reason...I was more afraid to end up in a Memphis jail than a PV Mexico jail.
steven Mar 29th 2011 4:11PM
I recently bought a house in Cabo San lucas . I have been living here since last Sept. I moved here from Malibu Ca. and I enjoy it here better. I feel safe here and have not felt uncomfortable at all. It is safer in Cabo than alot of places in Los Angeles. My only regret is that I did not move here sooner.
VM Mar 28th 2011 8:37PM
There is too much corruption, you always have to pay the cops,every time I have been down there its the same routine. Someone else I know went a month ago, missionaries, they got pulled over and had to "pay the Mordita" I hope their tourism dies.
VM
Susie Mar 28th 2011 9:24PM
Just returned from Cancun- I felt completely safe. As for prices- agree that you ought to check on Apple Vacations- much less than Expedia. I paid 1300 for flight, tranfers and 7 nights at fabulous high end all inclusive. Same place was 1800 on Expdedia without air.
April Mar 29th 2011 9:43AM
Many of these stories people are writing happened a while ago. My fiance and I went to Cancun 2 months ago for a destination wedding. We stayed at Azul Beach Hotel, which was all inclusive. I will say that it was absolutely amazing! The beach was beautiful, the staff were friendly, and it was really clean. We even traveled to go shopping and see some sights. I never once felt scared or threatened. The trip to and from the airport was easy and problem free. I will definitely go back to Cancun.
David Mar 30th 2011 12:17AM
I live here in Mazatlan along with thousands of Canadians and Americans. Seriously it's not the violence keeping cruiselines away it's new taxes on the port.
I wish the media up north would get their story straight.
http://retire.com.mx