Travel Experts Reassure Tourists Mexico Remains Safe Despite Recent Warnings

Travel Experts Reassure Tourists Mexico Remains Safe Despite Recent Warnings

The U.S. State Department has updated its travel warnings for numerous regions of Mexico in response to the March 3 kidnapping of four Americans in the border town of Matamoros, Mexico. The updated warnings triggered a storm of articles highlighting Mexico once again as a risky travel destination. 

However, a closer examination of the travel warnings and interviews with Mexican travel authorities and experts reveal that they are once more exaggerated and that visiting Mexico is just as safe as normal.

“Advisors and myself are not spooked [by the abductions], as nobody I know is selling Matamoros as a travel destination,” said Hope Smith, an independent contractor with Montecito Village Travel. “We know where Matamoros is in relation to where our clients go.”

What is stated in the travel recommendation?

The latest travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State includes an analysis of each state where the U.S. government advises travelers to exercise caution. There are only six states on the “Do Not Travel” list, and none of them are popular vacation destinations for Americans. The six states on the list are:

  • Colima
  • Guerrero
  • Michoacan
  • Sinaloa
  • Tamaulipas
  • Zacatecas

A further reading of the travel advisories on the State Department’s website shows that while certain states are subject to a Level 2 travel warning, there are no travel restrictions for most tourist locations in those states. These include:

  • Cabo San Lucas
  • San Jose del Cabo
  • La Paz
  • Palenque
  • San Cristobal de las Casas
  • San Miguel de Allende
  • Guanajuato City
  • Puerto Vallarta
  • Chapala
  • Ajijic
  • Mexico City
  • Riviera Nayarit
  • Oaxaca City
  • Monte Alban
  • Puerto Escondido
  • Huatulco
  • Puebla
  • Cancun
  • Cozumel
  • Isla Mujeres
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Tulum
  • Riviera Maya
  • Mazatlan
  • Yucatan State

Is Mexico safe to visit?

We are all used to hearing this question. The answer is still the same. Mexico is a big country. It is also a safe place to travel, but like any other place, there are things to be aware of.

“I have not seen a drop off in requests, or much concern from my clients,” said Sharon Walters, owner of Sharon Walters Travel. “I have families year after year that visit destinations such as Los Cabos and Punta Mita who are still planning on traveling this year. In fact, I have clients in Mexico on almost a weekly basis. The subject [of safety] does come up, but they are aware of the differences in destinations and understand that the resorts and locations are safe to travel to.”