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As the safety and security of tourists becomes even more important in Mexico, more areas in the Mexican Caribbean catering to travelers are deploying video surveillance cameras for their protection.
More Cameras Coming Soon
The Mexican Caribbean municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Bacalar, José María Morelos, and Lázaro Cárdenas will soon have video surveillance cameras to help keep visitors to the areas safe.
According to a leader of the Quintana Roo State Public Security System Adrián Martínez Ortega, funds for the new surveillance cameras came from a fund designed to strengthen public security in the region.
A total of four to six video surveillance towers will be installed in the areas, among to about 30 different surveillance cameras.
They will be strategically placed in high-traffic and tourist areas to monitor activity and keep an eye out for potential criminal threats.
The camera networking monitoring station will be in constant contact with the municipal authorities to dispatch law enforcement if the cameras show a potential threat to locals or visitors.
More than $88 million pesos, or nearly $5 million dollars, have been allocated for the crime prevention strategies to protect tourists across the 11 municipalities of Quintana Roo.
The Mexican Caribbean Camera Network
The State of Quintana Roo, which includes the popular tourist areas of Cancun, Cozumel, Tulum, Isla Mujeres and other areas is in a multiyear effort to increase the level of security in the region with the installation of video monitoring cameras.
While crime is not a major issue in the tourist areas of the state, the added sense of security can help travelers to the very popular beach resort destination feel safer when traveling to the area for a vacation getaway.
However, the United States Department of State still has a level two, or exercise increased caution, level posted for travelers to the top tourist destination in all of Mexico.
Exercise Increased Caution
Currently, the United States Department of State has the State of Quintana Roo at a relatively safe “exercise increased caution” level, which is level two of the four-level scale where one is the exercise normal precautions level.
According to the latest report on Quintana Roo, travelers to the area, which includes Cancun, are advised that criminal activity can occur at any location, at any time, including tourist destinations.
Tourists and other innocent bystanders have been involved accidentally in shootings, and United States citizens have been victims of violent and nonviolent crimes in tourist areas.
Additionally, the report states, “[government] personnel are advised to exercise increased situational awareness after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.”
Only two areas in Mexico have a better United States Department of State travel rating. Both Campeche and the nearby Yucatan state are rated level one or exercise normal precautions.
Enhanced Safety for Tourists
The additional cameras added to the statewide Quintana Roo video surveillance system should definitely help travelers to the region feel safer and secure despite the ominous warning from the United States Department of State.
Local officials hope that the added enhanced protection for travelers to the region will ultimately encourage the Department of State to adjust their rating on the beach resort destination to match that of the nearby Yucatan state.
Until then, travelers truly should follow the advisory of the State Department and exercise increased caution.
Essentially, most safety and security steps for travelers are considered common sense.
Travelers to Cancun and nearby areas should always be aware of their surroundings and cautious in unknown areas. They should also avoid wearing flashy or expensive jewelry or items. Also, avoid carrying expensive items or large amounts of cash.
Travelers are also advised to have travel insurance covering theft losses before visiting the beach resort destination.
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