Don’t Let Sensationalist News Deter You – Visit Mexico!
Mexico has long been a major vacation destination for U.S. holidaymakers, and why wouldn’t it be? With alluring beaches, enchanting resorts, tropical climates, and the close proximity, Mexico is in the perfect position to dominate the U.S. tourism market.
However, following a recent series of negative publicity, including reports of rampant crime, police corruption, and instances of violence, people became hesitant to venture there.
For many travelers, the fear and uncertainty surrounding Mexico stems from news reports that either over-sensationalized issues, or that failed to frame those situations in the proper context. Combine this with oversaturation and a tense political climate, and it’s no wonder they were turned off to the destination.
According to numerous professionals in the travel industry, much of what has been publicized about Mexico’s safety has been misleading. “Speaking personally as an agency owner, I think it’s a very safe destination,” said Tom Brussow, president of Sunsational Beach Vacations, and president of the organization ‘Yes to Mexico,’ a non-profit that aims to debunk myths about the country.
“We’ve run into some concerns driven by [misleading] headlines, but overall, I still think it’s extremely popular,” said Brussow.
He emphasized that, while some places in Mexico are potentially dangerous for travelers, there was little need to be worried. “Our clients are really getting a sense that what they’re reading in the headlines doesn’t conform with reality very well … Once they get down there, once they get to the resort, and they get a chance to meet and understand the Mexican people … they have an amazing time.”
Fact From Fiction
And therein lies the problem. There’s a significant rift between what is reported about Mexico in the news, and what a majority of travelers experience when they visit. Despite what a number of headlines have reported, incidents in Mexico involving tourists are extremely few and far between.
Most trips occur without incident and clients return home with great memories and plans to come back. Only a small percentage of those trips end badly for travelers, but those are the stories that seem to garner the most media attention.
Now, this isn’t to say that traveling through Mexico poses no risks. But generally speaking, if travelers stick to safe areas like tourist resorts, and exercise some good common sense, they should have no reason to feel uneasy.
In fact, crime rates in Mexico are relatively low, and violent crime is something that any visitor using common sense should not encounter. “Just like if you’re traveling anywhere else in the world, you have to take the necessary precautions and use common sense,” said Brussow. “Don’t find yourself at the wrong place at the wrong time. I’d have the same advice if someone was going to New York or Los Angeles or Miami… just practice common sense,” he added.
Despite all this negativity, Mexico remains remarkably popular among tourists, and is currently the sixth most visited country in the world. In 2018, a total of 41.4 million international tourists visited Mexico, an increase of 5.5% compared to 2017, according to the country’s Secretary of Tourism.
Read the full article at travelmarketreport.com.