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Cancun businesses continue to take steps to protect travelers to the Mexican Caribbean beach resort community from crime during this peak winter holiday season.
Protecting Tourists in Restaurants
By the end of the year, reports say that the restaurant industry plans to add an additional 300 surveillance cameras to the rapidly building Cancun municipal security network.
National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry President Julio Villarreal Zapata said that 300 cameras are added to the 200 already installed, making the grand total of 500 restaurant cameras participating in the network.
He also encouraged additional businesses in Cancun that are focused on protecting visitors to install cameras and link them to the system as well.
Cancun Security Network
The Cancun camera security network continues to grow as more and more businesses in the area that serve tourists install cameras and connect them to the network.
The entire security network is connected to the municipal police department and allows first responders to remotely monitor key locations around the beach resort destination.
If a situation occurs, police can quickly respond to the incident with the correct enforcement needed to protect visitors and businesses from criminals.
Not only are local businesses, such as convenience stores, part of the security network. Other popular tourist locations, such as local beaches in Cancun have also recently had security cameras installed to protect visitors.
Positive Results from Cameras
Villarreal Zapata cites the cameras for the decrease in crime in restaurants that have the cameras already installed.
They have also decreased the time needed for the Cancun police to respond to an incident because of the ability to already be aware of the crime before a call is made to law enforcement.
Because the cameras capture pictures of a crime in progress, it has also helped local police to catch criminals and have evidence to prosecute them for their crimes.
The cameras have also helped keep employees safe when providing service to the visitors to the beach resort destination.
Exercise Increased Caution
The United States Department of State maintains an “exercise increased caution” travel advisory for the entire State of Quintana Roo, including Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun.
The rating has been in place since August 22, 2023 and is due to crime in the areas surrounding Cancun. The travel alert advises that crime and violence can occur in the area in any location and at any time.
Even in the tourist areas, the United States Department of State recommends exercising “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.”
The good news is most of the crimes in the areas around Cancun are outside of tourist areas and typically don’t involve tourists, with the exception of petty theft crimes of unmonitored items left by tourists.
What Travelers Need to Know
The increased focus on safety and security in Cancun and other locations throughout the State of Quintana Roo is good news for travelers to the beach resort destination.
As more locations deploy security cameras and link them to the system, it will continue to deter crime in the area and add to the protection of tourists enjoying their vacation getaway.
Despite the increase in security, visitors should still secure travel insurance to protect themselves against theft in advance of heading to Mexico for their vacation, especially during the peak winter holiday travel season.
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