subject: Is Mexico Safe For Travel? [print this page] First off, yes most regions of Mexico are safe for travel. Set aside all those media reports of shootings and kidnappings, just for a moment. Put those Fox News images of Mexico in the trash for safekeeping. Now consider the information we have compiled; the unbiased, realistic facts gathered from people currently traveling in or recently returned from a trek down south. Use this information to form a balanced vision of Mexico; hopefully you will see the country is indeed safe for travel.
First up is the actual size of Mexico. From east to west, north to south, including all the little islands and cays off the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Mexico is the 14th largest nation in the world (in terms of area). Let's further emphasise that statistic: With over 761,000 square miles within its borders and out of 250 distinct states around the world, Mexico is the 14th largest nation. Mexico is over three times the size of France, and in terms of nation size, could even squeeze in Croatia or Costa Rica as well. The point here is Mexico is a huge place, violence that occurs in one part of the country doesn't mean it happens everywhere. That would be like assuming the rattlesnakes in Texas are equally hazardous in Oregon.
The international drug trade is mainly involved in the incidences in Mexico, as you have no doubt heard. Of course most countries, including the US, Canada, England, and Russia have active drug trades, just as other nations around the world do. No matter where you are, if you are engaged in the sale or purchase of narcotics, you will be putting yourself at risk. Drug violence in Mexico is almost exclusively centered in towns and communities along the Mexico-US border, because that is the most significant trade route. Places like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta are well away from those areas, and almost never see that type of violence. In fact, it may be more dangerous to visit places like Detroit, Saint Louis and Memphis (US cities with the highest rates of violent crime).
Now for the practical reason: Mexico is the eighth most visited nation in the world, making tourism the fourth largest source of foreign exchange in Mexico. According to data from the World Travel and Tourism Compendium, travel and tourism in Mexico accounted for more than 13% of Mexico's GDP in 2011. Mexican authorities work very hard at defending that income, including strategies to eradicate violence. Your travel dollars are worth far more to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cabo San Lucas than any drug lord. An opportunity for improving infrastructure is provided by a successful tourism industry, which also provides jobs and cash to the locals. Yet tourism also boosts the international reputation for a country, and in turn international trade.
So, is Mexico safe for travel? It sure is safe, especially in tourism-centered places like those mentioned above. Avoid the border towns if at all possible, as there isn't too much of interest there anyway. The Yucatan Peninsula, the Baja Peninsula and central regions of Mexico, are where all the real beauty and cultural spots are located.
by: Robert Nickel
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