U.S. Toughens Mexico Travel Warning After Surge of Violence in Guerrero State Dolia Estevez - Forbes
go to original October 14, 2014

Mass kidnappings and the discovery of mass graves in the Mexican State of Guerrero, a prime tourist destination on the Pacific coast, forced the U.S. Department of State to update its Mexico Travel Warning. The new warning, issued on October 10, calls on Americans to “defer non-essential travel to all parts” of Guerrero, except for the cities of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Taxco and the caves at Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, where visitors area advised to “exercise caution.”

The State Department does not say what prompted the update from its previous advisory issued on August 15, just two months ago. But it is a good guess that it was caused by hightened security concerns for Americans tourists in Guerrero, a preferred place for tourists that is rapidly becoming ungovernable. According to the Mexican government, Guerrero was the most violent state in 2013, with 2,087 homicides and 207 reported cases of kidnapping.

The State Department warning asks Americans to avoid traveling on highways, except for one toll road, to be used only during daylight hours. When traveling to the beach resort of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, the State Department recommends flying. It also recommends limiting lodging to Acapulco’s “hotel zone” and to remain within the tourists areas.

On a less alarming note, the Travel Warning says that here is no evidence that organized criminal groups have targeted U.S. visitors. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico “generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime” that exist in other regions.

Read the rest at Forbes

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!