Quintana Roo’s lucrative tourist zones have been spared the worst in the United States Department of State’s updated travel advisory, issued this week.
All of Mexico’s major tourism destinations have been deemed safe enough to visit. That includes Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and the Mayan Riviera.
The Mexico Tourism Board noted that more than 40 of the country’s major international tourist destinations have no travel restrictions.
But warnings were issued for Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas because of rising homicides, kidnappings, car thefts and robberies.
Mexican officials cite the updated travel advisory to prove the vast majority of crimes in the country do not occur in areas frequented by international tourists. Even some of the areas with remaining warnings — such as Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta — have resort areas free of travel restrictions.
Mexico’s drug and extortion cartels have been linked more than 100 killings in Cancun since the beginning of 2018.
Despite a rise in homicides — and the bombing of a ferry boat — in Quintana Roo’s main tourist destinations were scored two out of four on a safety scale, indicating the need to “exercise increase caution.”
“While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted, criminal organization assassinations, turf battles between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents injuring or killing bystanders have occurred,” the advisory reads.
Yucatán is also at level two, although it’s still the safest state in the country.
“Police presence and emergency response are extremely limited outside of the state capital,” the advisory warns, indicating built-in risks outside Mérida.
Mexico is the sixth-most visited country in the world, registering 39.3 million international visitors in 2017. The tourism industry in the country has also experienced a growth rate above industry-average levels for the last five years, thanks in part to the government’s focus on tourist safety.
The U.S. government recommends tourists stick to toll roads and avoid driving at night.
Sources: Travel Pulse, press release
