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Mexico Tourism Hit Hard by Crime

Last year there were many negative reports about having a safe vacation in Mexico. So have things settled down in one of the most thriving tourism industries in the world? Well, after listening to reports from news agencies many perennial tourists are thinking of going elsewhere for their annual warm-climate holiday. But are they the only ones balking at going to America’s hot southern neighbor?

Many Mexican Americans and Mexican nationals who are working in the U.S. are not making their annual trip home to visit friends and relatives. Some are turned off by the slumping economy but others are passing on the trip because they are afraid of the worsening climate, especially the kidnappings, killings and rising shootouts between gangs.

IN fact the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert last fall warning American citizens to take every precaution when visiting the country. The warning specifically states that “increasingly violent fight for control of narcotics trafficking routes, especially in the cities of Tijuana, Chihuahua and Ciudad Juarez.”

Tijuana is especially hard hit. The Baja border town relies on American tourism for much of its business, whether it be Mexican nations, foreign visitors or Americans. In fact the transportation industry has reported the decline in the number buses traveling there.

Not only are their kidnappings but an increases in carjacking and muggings has quieted down car traffic into Mexican cities. It’s not that the crimes are ongoing but they happen just often enough that many people feel that they are running the gauntlet.

Even the airlines have noticed the difference. Mexicana Airlines saw a 4% drop from just a year ago, especially in bookings from Mexicans traveling home but admit that this could also be attributed the decline to the economy.

However many others reported that when the crimes were reported the police were either powerless or too busy to help. The corruption of the drug business is reported to be the life blood of many of these towns and the police are involved.

However, this did not deter many other Mexican nationals from coming home. Last year a government program called Welcome Home Paisano reported that more than 1 million Mexicans returned home for vacations. This agency basically preaches common sense when traveling in Mexico or any other place for that matter.

So, although there haven’t many incidents on the national news lately, the tourist season is just beginning.