PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - The surge of violence from criminal organizations in Mexico has once again cast a shadow over the nation's tourism industry, with the United Kingdom issuing a travel alert for ten States of Mexico, including Jalisco, the home to Puerto Vallarta.
The UK government's advice urges British tourists to exercise extreme caution due to the presence of these criminal factions, stating, "although tourists have not been targeted, anyone in the vicinity of an incident could be affected.”
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) strongly advises against travel to Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Baja California. Exceptions are made for specific areas like certain capitals and airport zones. The FCDO acknowledges Mexico's efforts to safeguard principal tourist destinations but notes that rival criminal gang clashes have been reported in popular tourist spots, notably around Cancun, since the start of 2021.
Mexico's struggle to assure tourists of their safety has been challenging in recent months. The murder of at least eight individuals in Cancun and Acapulco during Holy Week (April) led President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration to deploy over 8,000 soldiers to protect key vacation destinations. Pristine beach scenes contrasted sharply with the visual of military uniforms, as 4,724 agents were dispatched to Cancun, Tulum, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and the Veracruz coasts, and an additional 3,800 were assigned to secure the country's highways.
The pervasive presence of organized crime has also troubled the United States. Current travel advisories maintain a "Do Not Travel" classification for several regions, including Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, citing crime and kidnapping concerns. Moreover, the US Department of State suggests travelers "reconsider" trips to Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora, thus broadening the British advisory list.
In early June, President López Obrador shared a comparative table reflecting homicide rates during previous administrations. The statistics revealed a grim reality; under López Obrador's tenure, which began in December 2018, homicides have already surpassed those recorded during previous administrations.
For Mexico, a country heavily reliant on tourism as a vital source of revenue, the escalating violence poses a significant threat. The sight of uniformed officers patrolling the beaches, coupled with constant international travel advisories, discourages potential tourists. Day-to-day reports of criminal incidents make it difficult for travelers to envision a peaceful vacation in Mexico, prompting a serious challenge for the country's tourism industry.
