There has been much news on the internet and television discussing the “Drug War” occurring in Mexico. I know many people who are considering traveling to Mexico in the near future and have wondered if this is a good idea.

Since the Mexican Government waged the war against the drug trafficking trade in Mexico in 2006, 28,000 people have died. There is widespread violence across the country. Most of it is located along the US-Mexican border, but it is spreading across all of Mexico.

According to the U.S. Department of State’s September 2010 warning:

More than half of all Americans killed in Mexico in FY 2009 whose deaths were reported to the U.S. Embassy were killed in the border cities of Ciudad, Juarez and Tijuana.

While there hasn’t been news of much drug war violence in the resort areas of Cancun or Riviera Maya, it has occurred in the past. In September 2010, 8 people were killed at a local bar in Cancun. There have also been numerous killings and violence in the resort town of Acapulco.

Still, it appears that this has not hindered tourism to Mexico’s resort destinations. One news outlet reported statistics given by the Mexico Tourist Board showing that travel to Mexico by tourists actually increased by 35% from June 2009 to June 2010. The article goes on, however, to state that figures compiled by U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries indicate otherwise.

The U.S. Department of State’s September 2010 statement provides the following warnings:

• U.S. citizens should not travel by road to get to the beach resorts of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo
• U.S. citizens should travel on main roads during daylight hours
• Leave your itinerary with family or friends not traveling with you
• Do not travel alone
• Do not wear expensive or flashy jewelry or carry large amounts of money
• Stay in well-known tourist areas

In light of the State Department’s warning, I am curious to know if you are concerned with travel to Mexico.

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