When it Comes to Mexico, Don’t Believe Everything You Read
If you pay attention to the news, you have probably seen some misleading reports about Mexico recently. These can and have had a very negative impact on the country’s reputation and the tourism industry here.
They say that perception is reality, but in the case of tourist safety here, this adage does not apply. Let’s take a look at some of the recent headlines in the news regarding this gorgeous country.
Misconception: Seaweed is taking over Mexico’s beaches
Reality: The seaweed problem only affects certain areas of Mexico’s coast.
Sargassum algae, also known as seaweed, is accumulating in certain areas of Mexico’s coast. However, it is not affecting every beach. The problem is only occuring along the Caribbean Coast, while the Pacific Coast and the beach destinations here have remained unimpacted by the seaweed issue. You may have seen a recent headline in the Associated Press (AP) leading readers to believe that the problem has affected the entire country. This would be like saying all of America’s beaches had a seaweed issue when it was only Florida that was affected. USA Today countered this misleading article from AP. They published a more accurate portrayal of the areas affected by an over-accumulation of seaweed in parts of the country only.
Misconception: Violence is everywhere in Mexico & Tourists aren’t safe
Reality: Only certain parts of Mexico are dangerous. Violent individuals do not target tourists.
Much like America, certain parts of Mexico are affected by gang violence and other forms of violence that make it dangerous. For instance, the South side of Chicago is notoriously crime-ridden and constantly making headlines for shootings and other crime. The rest of Chicago is relatively safe – I have lived here for 4 years now and have never once witnessed violence.
The same goes for Mexico. Gang violence does not affect Mexico’s popular tourist areas. It is true that a bar shooting occurred in Playa del Carmen last week. However, according to the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo (a very reputable source), zero tourists were involved in the unfortunate incident. The incident occurred outside the tourist area at an establishment frequented mostly by local residents.
The State of Quintana Roo commits to maintain the safety of its destinations. They are taking proactive steps towards this goal, including:
- Modernizing its police and security services
- Investing in technology, including 3,000 surveillance cameras mostly in Cancun and Playa del Carmen
- Upgrading operations centers
- Partnering with members of the tourism industry to share international best practices
Of course we must preface this that it is always important to exercise common sense in an unfamiliar country. Heed the advice of your travel agent and hotel staff. In addition, do not engage in risky or illegal behavior while on vacation anywhere.
Promote Mexico tourism
Tourism is the largest industry in Mexico, with a record 10.6 million tourists visiting the country in just the first quarter of 2018. Tourism is a huge source of income for the country. It brought in nearly $20 billion last year and employs hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens.
Support the people of this country and the tourism industry here! Book your own visit to Mexico today! Call us at 402-390-9291 and ask for one of our Mexico travel specialists.
One question that we are seeing a lot lately is whether we can travel to Mexico right now. The answer is YES! We sent several clients to Mexico in July and have even more on the books for August.
Read on for our client’s testimonial on traveling to Mexico last month.
“Hi Kyle,
We had a wonderful time at the VIM (Valentin Imperial Maya, Riviera Maya). The resort had amazing safety measures in place. All staff members had on face masks and most also had face shields. There were hand sanitation stations set up as you entered every restaurant and entrances to the lobby.
The staff was so happy to be back at work and have guests. The service was fantastic.
Occupancy was at 24 – 26% during our stay. We really enjoyed our swim up room and spent most of our time there. It didn’t feel crowded anywhere and all restaurants and social areas were set up for social distancing.
There were 3 restaurants open each night. There was one buffet and one a la carte restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Sadly the Snack Bar is not open.
There wasn’t much for entertainment and we honestly didn’t miss it. We truly enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was one of the most relaxing trips we’ve taken.
The only negative for us was the lack of social distancing and wearing of face masks in the US airports and going through customs in Mexico. Also wearing face masks properly on the planes.
We honestly felt safer at the resort in Mexico than anywhere in the US. We look forward to going back to the VIM in August.
You’re the best, thanks so much!
Mary”
This experience in Mexico addresses many questions and concerns you may be dealing with when deciding whether to travel to Mexico right now. Do resorts have safety measures in place? How is the service? What are the occupancy rates? Do the resorts feel crowded? Are restaurants open? Will I feel safe? Let’s take a look at each of these questions.
Do resorts have safety measures in place?
As Mary explains in her review above, Valentin Imperial Maya resort in Riviera Maya had great safety measures in place. These safety measures include face masks and face shields for all staff members and hand sanitization stations at restaurant and lobby entrances. In addition, all restaurants and social areas are set up for social distancing.
All hotels and resorts in Mexico have these type of safety measures in place and you can do a quick google search to find out their exact safety guidelines before you travel. We can also assist you in choosing a resort with the best safety measures and protocols so that you feel safe.
How is the service?
Mary sums it up perfectly in her review: “The staff was so happy to be back at work and have guests. The service was fantastic.” You don’t have to worry about people acting hostile to Americans when traveling to Mexico right now. The people there are happy to be back at work and they need Americans in their resorts and restaurants.
What are the occupancy rates and do the resorts feel crowded?
As mentioned above, the occupancy rate during Mary’s stay was at about 25%. All restaurants and public areas were set up for social distancing and our clients felt very safe. It did not feel crowded at all.
Are restaurants open on the resorts?
Yes, three restaurants were open during Mary’s stay at Valentin Imperial Maya. “There was one buffet and one a la carte restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Sadly the Snack Bar is not open.” The resort also had social distancing measures in place and hand sanitization stations upon entry.
Will I feel safe while staying in Mexico?
You can see by our client’s testimonial that they felt very safe during their entire stay. In fact, Mary says she felt more safe in Mexico than she does in the US right now. They enjoyed their stay so much that they already have a return trip planned for this month! “We truly enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was one of the most relaxing trips we’ve taken.”
Are you ready to travel to Mexico now? We are ready to plan your getaway! Call us today with any questions or concerns you may have. You can reach our experienced travel agents at 402-390-9291 or get started here.