Search Travel Market Report

algv HPTO
algv
mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle
Sponsored By ALG
Sponsored By ALG
algv

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
alg HPTO
Related Articles
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
Where to Go in 2022, According to the Experts

MOST VIEWED

  1. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  3. Government of Canada Updates Its Mexico Travel Advisory
  4. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  5. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  6. Here’s What the U.S. and Canada Are Saying About Travel and Crime in Mexico

MOST EMAILED

  1. U.S. Passport Renewal Processing Time Now 8 to 11 Weeks
  2. U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
  3. Why Travel Advisors Need to Learn to Say No to New Business
  4. European Union Delays Launch of ETIAS Until At Least 2024
  5. What Travel Advisors Need to Know about the Florida Seller of Travel License
  6. 9 Travel-Advisor Friendly Paris Boutique Hotels to Know About
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Explora Journeys
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=78f79d51-15c7-ed11-b00b-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

All About Culinary Immersion at Sea

Travel advisors can help their foodie clients enjoy true immersion experiences by booking them on culinary-focused cruises.

Read More...
alg
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
Travel Agency February Air Ticket Sales Up 54% Over 2022
Travel Agency February Air Ticket Sales Up 54% Over 2022

Travel agency air ticket sales continue to trend upward.

Read...
U.S. Embassy in Mexico Issues Travel Warning for Spring Breakers
U.S. Embassy in Mexico Issues Travel Warning for Spring Breakers

The Embassy recognized that thousands of U.S. citizens visit Mexico each year without issue during spring break. 

Read...
Hundreds of Flights Cancelled Friday Due to Strike at Four German Airports
Hundreds of Flights Cancelled Friday Due to Strike at Four German Airports

There’s another round of significant flight disruptions due to union action in Germany on Friday.

Read...
Air Canada Adds Summer Service to Amsterdam from Montreal
Air Canada Adds Summer Service to Amsterdam from Montreal

The new service will kick off on June 2.

Read...
U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse
U.S. Passport Renewal Waiting Time Could Soon Get Even Worse

It could be the highest demand year ever for passport applications. 

Read...
Royal Caribbean Pulls Erroneous "Premier" Offer
Royal Caribbean Pulls Erroneous "Premier" Offer

A system glitch caused Royal Caribbean to publish and pull a promotion. 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
lux cruise outlook
CP White Paper
Multi-Gen Outlook
River Cruise Outlook 2019
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/BDz_-mzUmZA/0.jpg
Meet South Africa with Your Local Guides
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 |Well-Being Travel |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