One of the largest concerns for visiting Mexico is safety. 聽Parents are concerned with sending their children on immersion trips to Mexico due to the drug violence that is largely concentrated to the border. 聽One usually would not think twice about sending their child on a school trip to Washington DC, however statistics show that the murder rate Washington DC is nearly four times as high as Mexico City. 聽
A closer look at the facts teaches us that the violence in Mexico is not as widespread or dangerous as it seems. If all of Mexico was truly unsafe, the State Department would have issued Travel Warnings for the entire country. According to the US State Department:
The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes.
In reality, not visiting Mexico City due to violence along the border is like not visiting St. Louis because of violence happening in New York City.
Another article from the Arizona Star states:
"We've had to do a lot of explaining that the Riviera Maya is a long way from the border. It's just taken more education," he said. "We have a big map and we show them."
Crime figures also show the level of violence varies wildly across the country. The homicide rate in the border state of Chihuahua last year was a horrifying 74 per 100,000. Levels in some other states such as Yucatan, Queretaro or Baja California Sur - where the Los Cabos resorts are located - were 5 per 100,000 or less, which is low to average even by U.S. standards.
The Yucatan is a wonderful vacation spot as it is affordable, has wonderful beaches, ruins and colonial history. But tourism is down due to tourists who falsely believe that it is unsafe. In reality, the Yucatan has a murder rate similar to Wyoming and Montana according to an article published by USA Today:
I am a female American living in Merida, Mexico and I have not once felt unsafe here. The people and culture of Mexico are friendly, helpful and kind. So, if you're avoiding Mexico because you believe it is too violent, please think again!
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