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The United States Department of State has updated its travel advisory for Mexico and the state of Quintana Roo once again.
The advisory removed a warning about an increased risk of kidnapping in Quintana Roo, which is home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
Quintana Roo is currently under a level 2 advisory, which suggests that travelers exercise increased caution while in the state.
The advisory states that criminal activity can occur in Quintana Roo at any time or place, including in tourist areas.
While tourists are rarely the target of violence, United States citizens have been caught in the crossfire.
The advisory recommends that tourists stay in well-lit areas and maintain situational awareness after dark in Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen.
Advice For Travel In Mexico
The Department of State has the following advice for those traveling in Mexico.
- Keep your travel companions and family informed about your travel plans
- If you get separated from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location
- If you take a taxi alone, take a picture of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend
- Use toll roads where possible and avoid driving alone or at night
- Use caution when visiting local bars, clubs and casinos
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- Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry
- Be attentive when visiting banks or ATMs
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations
Spring 2023 Advisory
During the busy Spring travel season, worries about security in Quintana Roo began to spread to Washington, D.C.
The Department of State released an advisory saying, “U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark.”
The advisory points out the risks of traveling to popular Maya Riviera destinations, but it does not ask that United States citizens reconsider traveling to Cancun or other popular tourist sites.
The State Department maintains travel advisories for all countries, and many countries popular with tourism share a level 2 advisory, such as the United Kingdom and France.
Violence in Tourist Areas
Recently, a shooting inside a hotel in the Cancun hotel district demonstrated how violence encroaches on tourist areas in the Riviera Maya.
The shooting involved organized crime and was a targeted attack that killed one person, a Mexican national.
No tourists were harmed in the shooting.
Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama met with the Quintana Roo Secretary of Citizen Security and Attorney General to discuss security in Quintana Roo after the shooting.
This incident marked the second time a fatal shooting occurred in the Cancun hotel zone this Spring.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of four Mexican nationals and caused uproar across Mexico and the rest of North America.
The Mexican National Tourism Business Council demanded that the Mexican government “ensure that the tourist destinations of the country be spaces of personal, social, and patrimonial security so that the local population and the national and international tourists can visit.”
Government Response
The Mexican government took major action in response to the shooting and other high-profile security incidents across the country.
In preparation for the busy Easter holiday, the government deployed over 8,000 National Guard troops to beach cities nationwide.
The troops were sent to patrol tourist areas, highways, bus stops, and other locations vital for tourism.
The largest group of these 8,000 troops were sent to Cancun.
Local governments have also made efforts to increase security and curb violence.
In July, National Guard troops stationed in Playa del Carmen were moved to Cancun, prompting Municipal President Lili Campos Miranda to call for reinforcements from the Navy.
While Playa del Carmen experienced increased violence against locals and foreigners, President Campos Miranda added 20 security elements to the existing security force in the city.
In addition, Playa del Carmen deploys innovative methods, such as K-9 units, to combat criminal activity.
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