Mexico: Is it safe to travel there? Where is “there”?

(Updated April 27, 2011)
1. While the U.S. State Department re-issued a Travel Warning for Mexico in April
2011, the warning is not a “blanket statement” covering the entire country and
does not explicitly say, “Do not travel to Mexico.”
The State Department Travel Warning for Mexico provides · detailed and specific
information on particular Mexican states that are impacted by drug-related
violence. Much of that violence is taking place in northern Mexican states and
communities at or near the U.S. border.
o The State Department aptly notes: “Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit
Mexico each year. This includes tens of thousands who cross the border
every day for study, tourism or business and at least one million U.S.
citizens who live in Mexico. The Mexican government makes a
considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major
tourist destinations.”
o The Travel Warning further states: “There is no evidence that U.S.
tourists have been targeted by criminal elements due to their citizenship.”
o While the State Department warning has now been extended to the state
of Jalisco due to problems in Guadalajara, resort areas around Puerto
Vallarta have remained relatively safe.
· Major resort areas where Americans like to go, such as Cancun, Cozumel, the
Riviera Maya and Cabo San Lucas are quite safe.
· Mexico is a huge country. Based on geographic size, it is among the top 15
largest independent nations in the world.
· Most media reports of violence in Mexico fail to mention nearly all of these
incidents take place along the border and far away from popular resort areas
frequented by U.S. tourists.
o The distance between the U.S./Mexico border, where much of the
violence takes place, and Cancun is over 1,400 miles. The flying
distance between the border and Cabo San Lucas is the same as
between Oklahoma and Indiana.
· Those individuals trying to lump Acapulco into the list of top Mexico destinations
U.S. travelers visit are misinformed. It has been decades since it was a hot
tourist destination – today it is more of a destination for Mexican nationals rather
than U.S. tourists.
· USA Today provided some statistical comparisons in the fall of 2010 between
Mexico and the U.S.
o Yucatán, the Gulf of Mexico state known for its beaches and Mayan
ruins, had a murder rate of 2 per 100,000 which is comparable to
Wyoming and Montana.
Washington, D.C.’s murder rate is nearly quadruple o that of the Mexican
capital, Mexico City. Washington’s murder rate was 31.4 per 100,000
people in 2008; Mexico City’s rate in 2009 was 8.
2. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help
ensure their safety and well-being. First and foremost: obey the law.
· If our clients are going to pack one thing, we’d strongly recommend it be
common sense. No matter what our clients’ age or destination, they should
always use good common sense when it comes to their personal safety, just as
they would at home.
· To maximize safety and security while traveling in Mexico or any other
international destination:
o Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as
though they could become dangerous.
o Stay in the well-known tourist areas of the cities.
o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.
o Visit only legitimate businesses and tourist areas, and avoid areas where
prostitution and drug dealing might occur.
o Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member back home.
o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your
phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks.
o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or
other valuable items.
o Make every attempt to travel during daylight hours, and stick to main
roads.
· The U.S. State Department recommends all travelers travel only during daylight
hours, avoid isolated roads, and, if driving, use toll roads whenever possible.
3. Safety is our top priority for our clients.
· Our business is founded on repeat customers. Therefore, we want to be sure
everything goes off without a hitch.
· We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their
travel plans.
· We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State Web site for travel alerts for all
destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.
· Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients
who may be planning to travel there so they can make determine for themselves
if they still wish to travel.