Tourism In Mexico Continues Despite Violence

         

         18 headless bodies were found in a car near Lake Chapala, in the western state of Jalisco in the month of May 2010. As the police further investigated, evidence appeared that suggested that the Zeta cartels were behind those murders. It is said that about 50,000 people have died in these drug wars since Felipe Calderon came into power in the year 2006 as Mexico’s president. Despite reoccurring news such as this, statistics show that tourism has increased yearly. This has been proven to be a positive thing for Mexico, seeing as how Mexico gains much economic stability through foreign affairs. And although tourism has increased in Mexico despite the drug cartel violence, it has decreased from some popular tourist areas such as Acapulco bringing economic consequences to the town.

            Acapulco has been labeled the second most dangerous city in the world. Labels such as that have scared off even the most “irresponsible tourists.” News coverage about the killing of 200 people in a span of two months in a touristy area, Acapulco, have also been a culprit of scaring off tourists. In the past three years cruise ships to Acapulco have diminished from 81 to 9. American tourism has dropped by 92%. This has affected the economy of the town. Without the tourists the town has been hurting economically.

            It is true that there have been cases throughout Mexico of tourists being robbed at gunpoint. After 7 years of these types of terror, many tourists have gotten over it, Mexico is still the least expensive vacation destination. Although Acapulco may not be the top destination spot in Mexico, other areas are still a good location for tourists. 

Mexican magic

An aerial view of Cancun Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula’s Caribbean coast at sunset. Cancun was purposely built as an ideal tourist spot by the Mexican government. (Corbis)

 
 

Sources:

Miglierini, J. (2011, April 18). The price of Mexico's 'drugs war'. Retrieved from BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13120598

Rueda, M. (2013, March 5th). Touring Mexico's Most Violent City. Retrieved from ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/ABC_Univision/acapulco-worlds-nicest-dangerous-resort-city/story?id=18652375

Tree, O. (2012, May 10). Eighteen Headless Bodies Dumped Near Mexican Tourist Spot In Latest Drug Cartel Killing. Retrieved from International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.com/eighteen-headless-bodies-dumped-near-mexican-tourist-spot-latest-drug-cartel-killing-697871

Flannery, N. P. (2013, March 18). Is Drug War Violence Scaring Away Mexico's Spring Break Tourists? Retrieved from Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/2013/03/18/is-drugwar-violence-scaring-away-mexicos-spring-break-tourists/