Since the outbreak of violence in tourist areas, law enforcement officials in Quintana Roo have moved quickly to announce arrests in each...
Since the outbreak of violence in tourist areas, law enforcement officials in Quintana Roo have moved quickly to announce arrests in each case. In December, an additional contingent of about 1,500 members of the Mexican National Guard began patrolling the beaches, a sign of how seriously the federal government has taken the threat to Mexico’s tourist industry.
But many wonder how sustainable this approach is. “For me it’s just a facade,” said Fabiola Cortés, a lawyer and journalist who helped expose Quintana Roo’s actions. former governor. He is now in prison, facing trial for corruption. “When high-impact events happen, they hold anyone down.”
David Ortiz Mena, president of the Tulum Hotel Association, said Tulum’s rapid growth in recent years had gone unchecked, with no thought given to the effect of hosting jungle parties for 5,000 people. He acknowledged that the authorities had started to make progress, but added: “The fact that the police cannot grow with the population is also a problem of sustainability.
Increased tourist attendance
For now, it seems most tourists who have heard of the murders seem willing to weigh the risks and make the trip to the Riviera Maya.
In December, when four out of five members of Pam Singh’s family had Covid-19, she decided “we have to get something good out of it” and booked a vacation to enjoy the post-illness immunity of the family.
Ms. Singh, 47, who lives in Brooklyn, had previously been to Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast and was looking for an easy-to-reach destination. “The scenery is beautiful, the hospitality is warm and the food is delicious,” she said. “It’s hard to argue with all that Mexico has to offer.”
Researching reviews online, she opted for a week at an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Morelos, which promised activities for her three children, ages 8 to 15, and good food.
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