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The State of Texas recently took the unusual step of issuing its own travel warning in an attempt to keep its citizens safe both during the upcoming Spring Break period and beyond.
The travel warning, which was announced by the state over the weekend, warned travelers against visiting Mexico following a rise in violent incidents throughout the country, including some that saw innocent American citizens visiting Mexico for vacation purposes murdered.
However, despite the extreme measures taken by Texas in issuing the travel warning, there are still plenty of places throughout Mexico that are perfectly safe for travelers to visit – and one of them is the world’s most in-demand destination, Cancun.
Here’s a look at the events that prompted Texas to issue its travel warnings over the weekend, plus why Cancun can be considered a safe destination for Americans both during Spring Break and beyond.
Texas Travel Warning – Information For Travelers
In a statement issued on Friday, the Texas Department of Public Safety appealed for travelers not to visit Mexico. The Director of the department, Steven McCraw, said the following:
“…violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now. We have a duty to inform the public about safety, travel risks, and threats. Based on the volatile nature of [gang] activity and the violence we are seeing there; we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time.”
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The development follows the kidnapping and murder of some American travelers in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, close to the country’s border with Texas.
Four Americans were kidnapped, with two, unfortunately, being murdered at the hands of gang members and two thankfully being rescued by the authorities.
As a result, five gang members were subsequently charged with aggravated kidnapping and murder, having been turned over to the police by the gang itself.
Is Cancun Safe? What Travelers Should Know
Unlike other destinations around the world, Mexico doesn’t have a general travel advisory warning from the U.S. State Department, but each of its states comes with its own travel advisory, helping American travelers to plan their trips to the country.
Yet while there are some states where travelers are explicitly told not to travel to (Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas), others do not – and one of them is Quintana Roo, home to Cancun, Tulum, Playa Del Carmen and several other popular destinations for travelers.
According to the State Department, travelers visiting Quintana Roo should exercise increased caution, the second lowest warning level that the department prescribes to destinations, highlighting its relative safety.
The state’s section warns of the risk of crime and kidnapping and recommends remaining alert when out late at night, but also points out that tourists are usually not targeted in more serious crimes.
For most travelers staying in Cancun’s hotel zone, crime is usually one of the last things on their minds, given the high police and security personnel presence.
Tackling crime has been a high priority of the local government, and travelers can truly feel safe in Cancun.
Thousands of extra military, Navy, and police personnel have been drafted into the city to keep a watchful eye on the streets and keep the record-breaking numbers of travelers safer than ever.
Not only that, but Cancun and other attractions, such as Playa Del Carmen, have bolstered their security camera capabilities, keeping would-be criminals away from popular areas.
It’s not only in the streets that travelers can count on being well looked after and protected, but in their resorts too.
The resort security forces in Cancun are some of the best-trained in the world, casting a guarding eye over travelers and operating so efficiently that most of the time, you won’t even notice that they are around.
Texas might have a point when it comes to some areas of Mexico, but as far as we’re concerned, Cancun is one of the safest destinations in the country for travelers.
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Tim
Tuesday 14th of March 2023
Surprised Florida hasn't done the same thing as it's pretty clear that Texas' concern for it's citizens is that Texas is losing them to vacation spots in Mexico!
We have been vacationing in Mexico (Cancun) since 1994 and have never felt unsafe. We're on the beach all day and out to dinner in local restaurants at night. We walk, take taxi's and have never felt threatened or have been "ripped off" by local taxi cab drivers or restaurant employees. There are places in the US that are dangerous and I would not go but we never here the US Government or the Texas government talking about unsafe US places.
The Government of Quintana Roo does an excellent with law enforcement and the military to insure that all visitors will be safe and their vacation money will spent fairly and not wasted.