Putting Mexico's Travel Warning in Prospective

"Tourism to Mexico appears largely unfazed by the U.S. State Department Travel Warning, issued on March 14 as a result of violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Travel sellers told Travel Market Report that once travelers realize the distances between the crime locations in the travel warming and the tourist spots, most are ready to travel, and one of the most important tasks facing Mexico’s new Secretary of State, Gloria Guevara, is making sure consumers are aware of this.

“We’ve had very few calls regarding Mexico travel concerns and cancellation levels have been normal,” reported Funjet Vacations manager of marketing and public relations Michelle Burmeister. Nor has Funjet needed to revise any of its offerings.

Similarly, Travel Impressions has seen very few cancelations — just one group and a few individual reservations — but nothing compared to last year around this time when a rise in the crime rate along the border was followed in May by the H1N1, said Sallie Rawlings, senior director corporate communications for Travel Impressions.

Rawlings said that the education that was done last year by tour operators and government groups might account for the fact that the industry is seeing fewer cancelations due to the travel warning this year.

“The entire tourism industry did a huge education push last year with the trade media. We got together on panels where we talked about how far the crime locations were from the tourist areas. We showed maps. We would ask, for example, if you were planning to visit Las Vegas and heard about crime in NYC, would that convince you to cancel your trip to Las Vegas? That is the distance between the border areas referred to in the warning and Cancun, for example,” Rawlings noted.

Rawlings stressed the important role of travel agents in educating with their clients. “Travel agents have gotten better at talking with their clients.”

Patrice Stafford, owner of Where 2 Now Travel, Brooklyn, NY is a case in point. She has clients going to Cancun in April. “They don't wish to cancel, but were concerned about the latest killings of the three Americans, so I assured them that Cancun to Juarez (more than 1,400 miles) is much farther than from Buffalo to New York City and they were fine with that,” said Stafford.

Those heading to Acapulco should be aware that there has been drug-related violence reported there as well.

The State Department warning includes safety suggestions for travelers throughout Mexico. “Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.” For more specific suggestions based on destination and modes of transportation, visit Mexico Country Specific Information.

The U.S. State Department also offers Spring Break ("Spring Break in Mexico- Know Before You Go!!") and Visiting Student memos reminding visitors of the harsh penalties for drug possession, and the dangers of excess alcohol consumption. Heeding beach warnings, avoiding unlicensed taxi and the need for proper insurance for drivers are among the other admonishments.

Travel Impressions’ Rawlings and others pointed out that caution and common sense are still required when traveling. “Think about all the other places you travel. If you are traveling in other parts of the world, or even in the U.S., there are areas that you wouldn’t go into,” she pointed out.

“We advise that travelers use common sense and always be aware of their surroundings when vacationing anywhere, not just Mexico,” added Funjet’s Burmeister.

Linda Cahill of Travel by Land or Sea said she believes that it is important to educate clients. “Safety and health come first with me,” she said.

She said that her advice to clients includes: “Never leave the hotel by yourself, always buddy up, don’t go far distances in a taxi by yourself, be aware of your surroundings, and never sit on the beach by yourself late at night.”

“Nothing is totally safe, no matter where you live. When we go somewhere we have to have a little bit of common sense. If you don’t advise of health conditions and security alerts it will come back and smack you in the face,” Cahill said."

To see where the drug violence is vs. the tourist areas, please take a look at this http://twitpic.com/18v1uv