Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

Despite Playa del Carmen Shooting, Industry Insiders Say Tourists Need Not Worry

by Kerry Tice / January 09, 2019
Despite Playa del Carmen Shooting, Industry Insiders Say Tourists Need Not Worry

The incident occurred in an area that is outside the tourist zone. Photo: Shutterstock

 
The question of Mexico’s safety has resurfaced in media reports again after seven people were killed in a shooting in the resort city of Playa del Carmen late Sunday.

According to a report from the Associated Press, state and local police said the attack occurred late Sunday at the Las Virginias bar in a low-income section relatively far from the beachside tourist zone. Six men were found shot to death in the bar, and another died at a local hospital. 

This latest incident, once again, brings attention to concerns of Mexico’s safety and particularly the safety of the state of Quintana Roo, which includes the popular beach resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. Playa del Carmen is located across from the popular island of Cozumel and has gained its own appeal over the past decade, as home to numerous hotel properties, including luxury resorts like the Fairmont Mayakoba and Secrets Maroma Beach.

However, the news also comes at a time when many within and outside the travel industry have been working hard to counter the negative press that Mexico has received over the past two years and reassure travelers that the violence is not occurring in tourist areas.

A Global News report quoted Walter McKay, a B.C.-based police specialist who developed a program to raise policing standards in Mexico, confirming that the “violence is largely happening outside the resorts.” 

Mexico isn't violent in the "right areas," just as Canada and the U.S. aren't, McKay said. However, he cautioned tourists to stay on the beaches or inside their resorts and “don’t be an adventurer” into areas beyond the resorts. 

Industry unites to counter bad press
Travel advisors who frequently book Mexico for their clients offered their opinions, as well.

 “It seems as though [this is a] local targeted situation that was horrible, the unfortunate reality of today’s world. The violence is not related to the tourist areas of Mexico. It is important that tourists [who] travel anywhere in the world understand their surroundings,” said Sandy Anderson, owner of Riverdale Travel. 

Kate Murphy, president of Wings Travel Group and one of several travel industry professionals who are working to set the record straight about the safety of Mexico through a new organization called YesToMexico, echoed Anderson’s sentiments. “The reality is many cities unfortunately have crime. But only in the case of Mexico does this narrative seem prevalent. For instance, if there was a murder in Queens, would someone print it’s unsafe to travel to Manhattan? 

“Point blank, sensational headlines have painted a negative portrait of Mexico that many advisors and their clients know is simply not true. We can’t sit back and just accept this. It is time to give a voice to the real truth and balance the conversation. There’s a reason Mexico has been ranked as the friendliest in the world and visitors overwhelming feel the destination exceeds expectations (94 percent of visitors, to be exact!).” 

Murphy has joined with fellow Mexico supporters to form YesToMexico, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization focused on delivering facts to consumers about travel to the destination and the tourist sentiment that travelers feel Mexico is, in fact, safe. 

According to the Mexico Tourism Board, the country was the sixth most visited global destination in 2017, with 20 million U.S. tourists visiting Mexico in 2017. The organization’s website also cites statistics on its Get the Facts page, including that the U.S. State Department rates most of Mexico – including Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta – at a Level 2, the same ranking given to France, Italy and the UK.

Murphy said the website will soon also be featuring testimonials from travelers attesting to the destination’s safety. 

To compare on the domestic front, major U.S. cities like New York City and Los Angeles have a higher combined crime index (92.77) than Cancun and Los Cabos (85.25), according to the Numbeo Crime Rate Index. 

Furthermore, a recent report released before the holidays from Allianz found that Cancun was the top international destination among travelers looking to escape to a warm-weather locale in December – further supporting the fact that travelers don’t seem to be shying away from the area at all.
  3
  0
Related Articles
Los Cabos Sees Rapid Recovery from COVID Due to Spike in Air Travelers
U.S. Embassy in Mexico Issues Travel Warning for Spring Breakers
Texas Issues Travel Advisory for Mexico, Urges Against Travel During Spring Break
Here’s What the U.S. and Canada Are Saying About Travel and Crime in Mexico
Government of Canada Updates Its Mexico Travel Advisory
Despite Reports, U.S. State Department Has Not Issued a New Mexico Travel Advisory
Mexico Forecasting Low Sargassum Levels through February
Spotlight on Los Cabos’ Las Ventanas Al Paraiso During its 25th Anniversary
New Opening: Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen, AMR’s Newest Adults-Only Resort
Top Playa del Carmen Beach to Stay Closed for Sargassum Cleanup

MOST VIEWED

  1. U.S. State Department Updates Jamaica Travel Warning to Level 3
  2. First Hand Look at the Soon-to-Open Sam Lord's Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort
  3. TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians
  4. Tips for Delivering Bad News to Your Clients
  5. Vantage Travel Website Down, Cruises Canceled Last Minute
  6. 25 Qualifying Questions to Help You Nail Your Clients' Vacation Plans

MOST EMAILED

  1. 5 Reasons You Need to Use a Travel Advisor Now More Than Ever
  2. First Hand Look at the Soon-to-Open Sam Lord's Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort
  3. U.S. State Department Updates Jamaica Travel Warning to Level 3
  4. U.S. to End COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for International Travelers
  5. 25 Qualifying Questions to Help You Nail Your Clients' Vacation Plans
  6. TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
NOAA Forecasts Near-Normal 2023 Hurricane Season with 12-17 Named Storms
NOAA Forecasts Near-Normal 2023 Hurricane Season with 12-17 Named Storms

The NOAA said it has “70% confidence” in its 2023 prediction.

Read...
London Heathrow Airport Prepares for Security Worker Strike
London Heathrow Airport Prepares for Security Worker Strike

Security guards working at Heathrow are set to strike from May 25 through May 27. 

Read...
TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians
TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians

Children 12 and under are already allowed to do the same.

Read...
Federal Judge Strikes Down American Airlines and JetBlue’s 'Northeast Alliance'
Federal Judge Strikes Down American Airlines and JetBlue’s 'Northeast Alliance'

The judge called the alliance “the sort of ‘unreasonable restrain on trade’ the Sherman Act was designed to prevent.” 

Read...
Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Dip Month-Over-Month
Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Dip Month-Over-Month

For the first time in 2023, total travel agency air ticket sales dipped month-over-month.

Read...
WestJet and Swoop Start Canceling Friday Flights as Pilot Strike Looms
WestJet and Swoop Start Canceling Friday Flights as Pilot Strike Looms

WestJet Group is cutting its schedule this week ahead of an expected pilot strike.

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
Cruise Trend Outlook 2023
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/TIZwKLcPwbg/0.jpg
We Appreciate our Travel Advisors
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy