MEXICO: Travel warnings related to drug war startles some tourists, yet U.S. students on Spring break continue to arrive in Cancun

Record ID: 303822

  • Title: MEXICO: Travel warnings related to drug war startles some tourists, yet U.S. students on Spring break continue to arrive in Cancun
  • Date: 15th March 2011
  • Summary: CANCUN, MEXICO (MARCH 12, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TOURISTS ON BEACH GIRL IN SEA SUNBATHERS MORE OF TOURISTS ON BEACH GIRLS GETTING INTO SEA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRING BREAKER FROM PENNSYLVANIA, CHELSEA, SAYING: "We heard it was really unsafe, especially to travel alone. We knew that there were a lot of problems with Americans being over here and stuff like that but its spring break, what are you going to do?" MORE OF GIRLS IN SEA MORE OF TOURISTS ON BEACH GENERAL VIEW OF BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPRING BREAKER FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SHELBY, SAYING: "I was really nervous coming down but ever since I've been here, it was a lot of fun and I didn't see anything that looked like I should've been afraid of. We left the resort twice to go to clubs and it was really safe and we got there and back fine. I even only went with like two girls one time and we got back fine at about 3 in the morning so it was very safe." GIRLS SUNBATHING KRYSTAL HOTEL MANAGER, ALFREDO VILCHIS, ON BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KRYSTAL HOTEL MANAGER, ALFREDO VILCHIS, SAYING: "Our objective is that they have a healthy, courteous and pleasant stay where they have fun but also one of comfort and security. I think it's our most important job, not only with them but with any of our guests and clients who come to our country and especially to Cancun." MORE OF SPRING BREAKERS IN POOL SPRING BREAKERS ON BEACH (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVAXQJI5YLVG6QDT0799L41EA0P
  • Story Text: Mexico's brutal drugs war has scared off many tourists yet students ready to party during Spring Break flocked to Cancun this past weekend.
    Fewer U.S. college revelers are expected in Mexico for this year's Spring Break after Texas officials last week warned co-eds to stay away from beach destinations like Cancun.
    While thousands of students on holiday have visited Cancun in the past three weeks, local media is reporting that fewer are staying at hotels than in previous years.
    Chelsea, a student from Pennsylvania, said she had decided to travel regardless of the warnings.
    "We heard it was really unsafe, especially to travel alone. We knew that there were a lot of problems with Americans being over here and stuff like that but it's Spring Break, what are you going to do?"
    Another student from Pennsylvania, Shelby, said she had felt perfectly safe at the resort.
    "I was really nervous coming down but ever since I've been here, it was a lot of fun and I didn't see anything that looked like I should've been afraid of. We left the resort twice to go to clubs and it was really safe and we got there and back fine. I even only went with like two girls one time and we got back fine at about 3 in the morning so it was very safe."
    Despite the violence, investors in the multi-billion dollar industry are pouring funds into Mexico's famed beaches, picturesque colonial towns and other tourist attractions, believing the violence will ease off in a few years.
    Foreign visitors spent $11.9 billion last year, up just 5 percent from 2009 when the global economic crisis took its toll and down more than 10 percent from $13.3 billion in 2008.
    They point out that the violence is usually far away from tourist areas even when it hits cities like Acapulco or Cancun, and many expect an end to the drug war at some stage, or at least a sharp decline in the death toll.
    More than 36,000 people have been killed since President Felipe Calderon launched his army-led drive to crush the drug cartels in late 2006.
    Fierce shoot-outs and tortured and headless bodies dumped on streets or left hanging from bridges have brought terrible headlines for an industry that is Mexico's No. 3 source of foreign currency after migrants' remittances and oil exports.
    Krystal Hotel Manager in Cancun Alfredo Vilchis said looking after guests' safety was the number one priority.
    "Our objective is that they have a healthy, courteous and pleasant stay where they have fun but also one of comfort and security. I think it's our most important job, not only with them but with any of our guests and clients who come to our country and especially to Cancun."
    Calderon's government says tourism supports 9 percent of gross domestic product and provides about 7.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly.
    The bloodletting has hurt his conservative National Action Party, or PAN, and it is lagging the opposition in opinion polls ahead of a presidential election next year.
    If the PAN loses the 2012 vote, the next government could pursue a less confrontational line with the cartels in the hope of reducing the violence, analysts say.
    While investors are confident of the tourism industry's future health, near-term safety fears must still be allayed.
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