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Millions Of Visitors Are Passing Through The Popular Beach Town
Cancun and the rest of Quintana Roo will have added sanitary and safety systems in place as the region approaches its incredibly busy Easter period. The state has been fighting several problems over the past few months.
Cancun is anticipated to receive as many as 3 million visitors over the Easter period. Other estimates have 200 thousand arriving each day during the week of Easter itself. The numbers are huge and preparations are well underway to ensure that it’s a successful period for the region.
Cancun and Quintana Roo’s economy is heavily tourist-based and for the last two years has thrived under Mexico’s relaxed stance on the pandemic. As the rest of the world closed its borders and enforced heavy restrictions, Mexico remained open to everyone with no requirements for entry. The rules allowed Cancun to skyrocket to the top of the world’s most popular destinations.
Now, as the rest of the planet and Cancun’s Caribbean completion relax their own rules, Cancun has a fight on its hands to keep ahold of its newfound market. The numbers are exceptional for this Easter, but several problems have plagued the coastal town in recent months and the Government is working to ensure the area is as secure and enjoyable as possible.
The issue of tourist safety has dominated the headlines across the world this year. Cancun and the rest of Quintana Roo are still extremely safe for tourists, but several high-profile incidents and a growing crime rate in different parts of the state have given rise to questions as to whether tourists are truly not at risk when on vacation there.
Organized crime continues to be the source of much of the violence and the fast-growing murder rate. Quintana Roo has seen more than 100 homicides since the beginning of the year. A terrifying figure when not taken in context. The reality is that none of these have been tourists, but knowing that level of violence is happening so close to the tourist spots is enough to justify not traveling to Cancun.
To help counter this, the Government of Quintana Roo has implanted multiple measures, including the new Tourist Security Battalion. This specialized branch of the national guard patrols the major tourist spots in Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. The purpose of their presence is to discourage any potential escalation of violence in busy tourist areas, lowering the chance of any collateral damage.
Additional security is being sent to Cancun and Quintana Roo over the course of the Easter period to assist with the security of the region. It is hoped their presence over this busy time will help make it a safe and enjoyable time for everyone visiting.
The Government is in constant contact with local hotel associations and other organizations to allow information to flow constructively between the agencies involved. The police now have access to security cameras in many of the local hotels and restaurants in the hope that the police and national guard can respond preemptively instead of reactionary if a incident does occur.
Inspections are also being carried out on the beaches and other areas to ensure no illegal activities are happening in plain sight. Several arrests have already been made across the state using this technique and information provided by authorities.
If Cancun can crack the safety problems going into such a busy season, it will set a strong precedent going forward, and pave the way for future success in the form of return visitors. With so many coming from Europe this Easter, that would be a massive plus in terms of a wider market base.
As far as the sanitary measures, Joaquin did not elaborate on what extra measures have been put in place. Masks have been dropped from public spaces recently which could in theory have a negative effect. Other systems in place are unknown at the moment.
Those hoping to visit Cancun over Easter should check in with their hotels and any service providers or restaurants to ensure they have reservations or spots available and avoid disappointment.
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