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Travelers to Cancun are to receive yet another new layer of security in the destination, adding to the already huge increase in safety and security initiatives in 2023 so far.
It has already been known for some time that Cancun is receiving 1000 new security cameras, but now it has been announced that 70 of these new security cameras will be modern license plate readers.
The Significance For Travelers
This may not sound overly important in terms of tourism, but this additional layer of security is intended for a very important purpose and will actually impact traveler safety in an extremely positive way.
It’s a common sight in Cancun to see police checkpoints set up across the city at important avenues and highways. One of the most important of these is the 2 main entrances into and out of the Hotel Zone.
While the Hotel Zone is famously very safe for travelers, there have been several high-profile instances of conflict in recent months that have shaken the area’s safe image.
Together with the standard security cameras all linked to a central control, these license plate readers will give the police and any checkpoints in place a huge intelligence boost and allow for a rapid response and eventual apprehension of suspects.
With these new license plate readers, the attractiveness of the Hotel Zone to criminals takes a serious dent. The ability to slip in and slip out easily disappears and, in turn, is expected to act as an important deterrent.
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Is The Hotel Zone Still Safe?
As mentioned before, there have been several high-profile incidents in recent months, and it can’t be denied that this has rattled more than a few travelers.
But, statistically speaking, this is still one of the safest places in all of Mexico and even safer than many American cities.
With that being said, the vast majority of crime that does take place in Cancun as a city is not directed at tourists or the tourism industry.
How To Stay Safe
The advice for staying safe while on vacation in Cancun is pretty straightforward. While it’s nice to take a vacation and unwind, leaving behind the stresses of the world back home, it’s important not to leave common sense behind.
The majority of crime that does affect travelers in Cancun is petty in nature; incidents of pickpocketing and scams are common enough to warrant extra care, although these crimes are still lower in Cancun than in many European destinations.
Where travelers can really land themselves in hot water is with the consumption of narcotics.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the consumption of narcotics in Cancun carries extra dangers compared to back in the United States.
Serious crime here is dominated by this industry, and when travelers engage in this activity, they actively put themselves at an unacceptable level of risk.
A Year Of Initiatives
It wouldn’t be out of place to call this the Year Of Initiatives in Cancun.
The destination has seen a near-endless list of new actions and plans from both local government and local law enforcement, all with the intention of making Cancun safer than ever.
In fact, so extensive are the actions being taken that the whole security apparatus in the state of Quintana Roo is being reimagined.
The intention is to take Cancun back to its previous reputation of safety and security, something that the local tourism industry and authorities know is absolutely vital to the continued growth of the destination.
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