PLAYA DEL CARMEN, September 4, 2006 -- With the shootouts in Acapulco, tourist checkpoints in Oaxaca and political demonstrations in Mexico City, travel to some parts of Mexico can be a little wilder than travelers have come to expect. Thankfully, Playa del Carmen and The Riviera Maya have been unscathed by such troubles.
The increasing political unrest and drug violence are making some potential visitors think twice about heading to Mexico, where the $11.8 billion tourism industry is the country's third-largest source of income, just after petroleum and money sent back home by migrant workers in the US. It’s important to note that no tourists have been injured as a result of the latest unrest, but the hotels and resorts in the areas affected are being hit by cancellations of thousands of reservations. For example, in Mexico City, officials report that hotels, restaurants and shops are losing nearly $25 million a day in revenue.
The political protesters claim the country’s presidential election was tainted by fraud, giving the conservative candidate, Felipe Calderon, the victory. The case is in Mexico’s federal court system, which has until September 6 to officially name the winner or to annul the entire election.
Walking through the bustling streets of Playa del Carmen or the lazy beaches of The Riviera Maya, all of this seems a million miles away and tourists can just relax and enjoy the getaway they were hoping for.
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