An aerial view of the resort city of Cancun in June. Mexican tourism officials are trying to reinvigorate the country's ailing tourism industry, which is important to the overall Mexican economy. The U.S. Department of Commerce says Americans spent $11.1 billion in Mexico last year. (AP Photo/Israel Leal)
This is the third in a three-part series of articles on the safety of travel to Mexico for Americans. To begin with Part One, click here.
This year has been trying for the folks who promote tourism to Mexico, but they‘re now trying to restore the faith of American travelers in their country.
“We’re working very hard,” to welcome back Americans, says Eduardo Chaillo, director of the Mexico Tourism Board in North America.
“Occupancy is improving a lot,” he says. “We’re having again the trust and confidence.”
This week, Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism and the Mexico Tourist Board launched a three-phase ad campaign designed to lure Americans and Canadians back to the country.
Mexico’s problems began in February, when the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert advising Americans of the potential dangers of visiting Mexico. The swine flu outbreak hit a month later, causing hotel occupancies to plummet.
Chaillo believes the Mexican government’s handling of the swine flu situation illustrates his nation’s commitment to safeguarding residents and guests alike.
“They took very strict measures to avoid the spread of the virus,” he notes. “The health and safety of the people was the first concern of President Calderon, above the economic [implications]… I think that’s a very good example of how Mexico takes care of people when they visit us.”
Chilling stories of Mexico travel dangers
Not everyone agrees with Chaillo’s assessment, including Maureen Webster, who founded a website to warn people about the hazards of travel to Mexico after her son drowned in a Cancun hotel pool.
She has her own illustrative stories, like that of Americans stranded in the ocean during a snorkeling outing.
“Every employee on the boat took off and let those young kids figure it out on their own,” she says.
One American died in the incident, but Webster notes that the death wouldn’t show up on the U.S. State Department’s list of American deaths abroad from non-natural causes because the victim died after being airlifted to a Texas hospital.
.jpg)
A Mexican soldier walks along the U.S.-Mexico border fence during an operation against drug smugglers in Tijuana, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
Then there’s the story of Andrew Smith, who died in Mexico after a railing he was leaning on gave way, causing him to fall into an elevator shaft where he was impaled by a steel bar. Webster says balcony railing standards in Mexico are far below those in the United States.
“It’s not just drunk people falling off balconies; it’s sober people falling off balconies,” she says.
Deaths lead to U.S. legislative initiative
Webster has been working with her congressman, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), to promote legislation that would help protect Americans traveling abroad by requiring websites marketing international travel services to provide consumers with information regarding health and safety conditions at advertised destinations.
“What other industry can sell a product without a warning label?” Webster asks.
Markey introduced the International Travelers Bill of Rights Act on July 1.
Webster’s son traveled to Cancun for a trip booked through one of the major vacation package providers in the U.S., which offers its services through travel agents and on the Internet. In her search for answers following Nolan’s death, Webster says it took repeated efforts to get someone from the tour company to speak to her.
“That was not an easy task,” she says. “It took me 10 weeks. It was a five-minute conversation… I said, ‘I want you to find out what happened at that resort… I expect you to call me back.’”
No one from the company ever called back.
Americans urged to return to Mexico
Chaillo, a genial-looking man who speaks in a friendly and reassuring tone, does not appear unsympathetic to the plight of people like Maureen Webster.
“Of course, we are very sorry about that,” he says of Nolan Webster’s death.
He believes that the Mexican government is constantly working to address safety concerns like those raised by Maureen Webster.
“You are very welcome always in Mexico,” he says. “I think we’re improving and going in a good direction.”
Comments
Informative article reminding us all to be careful when traveling abroad or anywhere for that matter.
There are many wonderful places to travel to. Mexico should not be a destination location. The travel promoters are now offering "discounts" to lure unsuspecting, innocent travelers back to a country that contributes 32% of all non-natural causes of American deaths. It is not worth the risk...vacation elsewhere.
Is it safe to travel to certain areas of Mexico like Cabo San Lucas?
Maureen Webster is a life saver in so many ways. There is no way of telling how many lives, families and loved ones shes already prevented from dying in Mexico. We all miss Nolan.
Many Americans are still taking a chance of going into Mexico.I have three grand children and two cousins in Mexico, and I will not go to visit.. I would like to see everyone not going to Mexico so that they can take us serious.
Anthony: As these articles state, the odds of anything bad happening to you while on a trip to Mexico are slim, particularly if you follow some of the precautions mentioned, like not wandering off alone. Several Americans drowned in and around Cabo last year. If you swim in the ocean, you have to be aware of the potential for dangerous riptides that can pull you under. Most of the violence in Baja California has been far to the north of Cabo, in Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada.
In recent months, however, other popular resorts like Acapulco and Cancun have found they are not immune from the problems associated with the Mexican government's ongoing war with drug traffickers.
Finally, as some of the comments suggest, make sure you behave responsibly. It's OK to party and have fun, you're on vacation after all, but don't let things get carried away for you or your friends. Alcohol is a drug that impairs judgment. The more alcohol you drink, the more impaired your judgment will be.
In reviewing some of the responses it seems some folks assume that tourists act irresponsibly. That is not the case in some situations. Nolan Webster, Andrew Smith and Brent Midlock did not behave inappropriately. Resort negligence caused their deaths.
Mexico has no right to "ask" American tourists to return. Just say no and spend your tourist dollars in the United States. Let's stand united and consider stimulating our economy first and foremost.
Dennis, the point is that even if you are "acting" responsible, medical emergencies do happen. Why do you think that people who die in Mexico are partying and drunk? If you have a heart attack, stroke, or any other life threatening medical emergency, what would be your changes of survival in Mexico with virtually nonexistent medical response? Besides the fact, you can be mugged, killed, and raped while sober. I would not have thought of this unless I read Maureen Webster's "Mexicovacationawareness.com" site.
Colby's mom: Thank you for your comment. If you read my comment carefully, you will see I did not place the blame for deaths in Mexico on partying and getting drunk. It was, rather, a statement urging responsible behavior, which could just as easily apply to travel to Canada or Europe or anyplace else Americans travel.
I agree that potentially slow medical response is a factor to consider when making a decision on whether or not to travel to Mexico, which is why that subject was covered in this series.
And, again, nowhere do I suggest that being drunk somehow contributed to being mugged, raped, or murdered.
Eduardo Chaillo, Director of the Mexican Tourism Board..."Of course we are very sorry about that" concerning the death of Nolan Webster...!!!sorry about that!!! are you kidding me??? He drowned in broad daylight and wasn't allowed medical intervention and he is "Sorry about that"...I will NEVER again set foot in Mexico
There is a reason why the Mexican Riviera remains the second most popular destination in the world for family travel. That reason is that many, many, many people go there and have perfect vacations. Bad things can happen anywhere and heavy alcohol use is a main contributor to added risk. Be responsible. be diligent. Mexico is wonderful.
I am an educated traveller who has travelled to many countries, I travel alone.I am a very married woman who travels to Mexico at least four times per year, this includes flying into CUN and driving 5.5 hours to the South to a small village named Mahahual. On these travels I have had to stay in many of the towns I have never in my entire time been treated inappropriately.I am very aware of my actions and the consequences of my actions, as when I travel anywhere I rely on my instincts and intuition to feel out any situation.I am not an American and I truly feel more safe in Mexico than I ever do in the United States.Look at the statistics, forget the drug wars along the US Border which are based on supply and demand, the stats will tell you where you are living is one of the most dangerous Countries.If people would act appropriately many of the problems would disappear, attitudes must change and the way people act on vacation must change.Travel experience and appreciate other countries.
Did you read what happened to Nolan? He was denied medical care. He had an accident and he DIED because the "doctor" forbid him help. You think that is OK? You are blaming Nolan for this? This could happen to anyone!
what other dangers can you forsee in san lucas mexico we are staying at the royal solaris hotel.....now i am worried about going
Dennis, my husband ordered one drink, someone put something in both our drinks on our resort. An angry Mexican perhaps? We are courteous, American travelers, nice to whomever we encountered. It was a Mojito, anything could be crushed in it. I did not drink all of mine but I felt impaired after what I had to drink, my husband became neurologically impaired to the point he had to go to the hospital. Were we going to be robbed but whoever was watching us realized I was okay? Was it a ploy to make a little money for the hospital? Who knows. But regardless, if one drinks or not they should be safe on their resort and that is not the case. Mexico is an evil country and I never realized until I went there. Very foolish on my part. Do people realize they have 4 armed guards with automatic weapons when loading ATM machines, that is in Cancun. Quite a site in the middle of the day, right outside the "safe" resorts.
I owned a business in Mexico in the 90's. The first thing you learn is that life is cheap in Mexico. The second is that most everyone must be paid off to get anything done. The third is that in every business transaction you will be screwed. These people don't sleep at night thinking of ways to stiff the gringo.
Here's some information I have received, a former housecleaner from chihuahau, mex, her father was kidnapped, an he is dirt poor, although the kidnappers realize there is family in california who will pay for his life....so they study you if your a local, now since all the cartells have been fighting in the street for california drug turf and killings have escalated, your average, murderer, thief, scumbag has gotten bolder... and the federally's i'm told by a friend who's from quadahlajara, says the federally's are kidnapping and holding you at a hotel for money, an I'm sure rapes probly happen also,
oh and I also hear, they're waiting for potential kidnappings at the airport.... so I have this trip booked at the end of march to cancun, cozemel area, and if you travel with drinkers/drunks, your safety just went down a big notch, and now i'm reading, they will try to drug you.... screw this, I'm not going to evil mexico, I've had more bad experiences happen to me there
Why waste money on a trip to Mexico? There are plenty of places that you can visit and be raped, robbed or murdered in the USA.... Baltimore, Washington D.C., Miami, Houston, Chicago, Detroit, LA...New Orleans....the only difference is that certain rules apply here in the US that don't apply in Mexico...for example...most criminals here will not cut off your head after killing you....By the way, the number one rule when traveling outside your own country...never assume anything.
How ridiculous this all is. We're very sorry that Americans (only Americans seem to be the focus here) have died on vacation in Mexico. People die on vacation all over the world. People die in their own home towns from the exact same things that happen here. Accidents can happen anywhere in the world. Discouraging people from going to an entire country because of accidents that happened on vacation is very small minded. Looking for someone or some place to blame does nothing other than spread the same ignorant mindset to others. It appears that many Americans are now fearful of traveling to Mexico. Guess what, though? It appears that people from most other parts of the world aren't. Our area of Mexico is filled with Europeans. Are they stupider than Americans? Doubtful. Seems they simply don't buy into the fearmongering. Wake up!
In my experiences in Mexico, (I've travelled to Monterrey and the Pacific coast around Sinaloa.) I've always been treated better when I pretend to be European (I'm half French and fluent.) It's like they respect you more or something. A good example was once I got lost looking for my hotel, so I tried asking directions in my pidgin spanglish with my english thrown in but people wouldn't even acknowledge my existence. I then tried speaking French before asking in my butchered spanish with an accent and it didn't take long for someone to care. In my experience I think it's unfair to compare American tourists versus Europeans motives for choosing Mexico as they are treated differently
We are traveling to PlayaDeCarmen this week. Should we cancel our trip or are we safe to go.
what a joke.....you are all fools if you believe half of what you;ve been force fed. Mexico is a wonderful country, with warm hearted people. There are fools in every country, and Mexico is not immune from them. However, would you travel to Baltimore, Miami, Compton, or the back streets of New York ????? If you say yes, you're a moron.
This website mexicovacationawareness is a COMPLETE JOKE!!!!!!
it;s a shames her son had to perish....but it could have just as easily happened in Los Angeles!!!!
I will promote a website about not travelling to the U.S because of all the murders, rapes, sodomys, robberies, and kidnappings XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.com Get a grip folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a friend from Mexico, Los Cabos. She advised me that life in Mexico is very cheap. A Mexico vaction 15-20 years ago was a great buy. Not any more!!! The police, government,drug , , ,are all on the take. She advised me that she would rather live any where here in the US, then to live in Mexico. Yes some cities in the US are bad, but if I need help, I can call the police. Maybe get some kind of protection - help. In Mexico they probably rob, rape and finish me off.
I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO SO MANY TIMES AND I LOVED IT LIFE IS SO MUCH EASIER THERE AND FOR THE MOST PART THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT YOU WILL FIND EVIL PEOPLE HERE IN THE USA MORE OFTEN THAN MEXICO JUST LOOK AT THE NEWS YOU CANT WALK THE STREET HERE AT NIGHT IN VALLE VERDE QRO. MEXICO YOU CAN YES THERE IS BAD THERE BUT NOT EVERY WHERE JUST LIKE HERE
Re: nik's comments.....YOU DON"T GET IT!!!!!! This wouldn't happen in L.A. because the medical responses in our country would have saved many of these people's lives!!!!! They are trying to get that point across to morons like you. If something goes wrong there, you are in BIG trouble. In America, there would be an ambulance at the scene immediately with proper life saving equipment. Read some of the stories of these drownings. Mexico does not have the same standards for water safety and they absolutely don't have the means to save your life when something bad happens. Vacation somewhere else people.....it's not worth it.
what about Couzamel or however you write it.i haven't heard anything ir read anything about it
hoya
The one thing I see inCancun is the houses are built way better than anywhere because of cement structures block structures...hard to believe how well built they are...but the little edges of a balcony or elevator or stairs sometimes are not finished with security in mind..maybe a space where a child can fit underneath the railing in Gran Plaza..maybe a space where it has no railing at all for a few inches where a child can fall...a loose railing here and there which you can tumble from but that is rare...most railings are done better than the states...teens may have loosened it during spring break.......the hospitals need to be checked to see who speaks english..in 5 more years everyone will speak english .so it is changing...
I'm worried about the kidnapping. The shops want to sell you beautiful silver, bling...then are you a target? Or are you a target because you are an American? Being an American isn't being rich, well-off, able to come up with money. I don't want to let my time share go, but I may just out of fear. We love the Mexican people and Mexican way of life. But fear is now coloring our thoughts on vacation plans. How can we expose our loved ones to this?
My fiance and I just came back from a wedding in Mexico (PV), and had no issues. For every scary, tragic, accident or event that has occurred in Mexico, I'm sure there are millions of stories where it was filled with nothing but fun, sun, and good memories. I've actually been to Mexico 7 times in the past 10 years (including once to border city Reynosa, and twice in Mexico city), and have never had any issues.
I'm not saying Mexico is extremely safe, but you are bound to have issues anywhere you go. I'm sure the bulk of people that are scared to travel to Mexico have probably never been outside of NA. If you go to Asia, Africa, South America, and even certain parts of Europe and the US, you're bound to have issues that aren't what we are accustomed to.
For example-I'm pretty sure I'm safer on a Mexican resort than I would be in downtown Miami, LA, New York, etc....
If you can get out of your comfort zone a bit, you'll find there are some very special places out there. I've been all over the world....and again, while I wouldn't say Mexico is completely safe, it is one of the best places I have been due to the culture, food, and beautiful sights.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!