Risk Expert Says Violent Crimes are Uncommon in Tourist Areas in Mexico Akgulian News
go to original February 12, 2013

Violent crime that targets travelers visiting Mexico, such as the six tourists from Spain who were raped last week in Acapulco, is uncommon according to a leading travel risk management firm.

The risk management firm said the majority of people that travel in Mexico do not have those kinds of problems. A spokesperson for the company said that no organization could be found in Mexico that targets foreign travelers.

The spokesperson did say that criminals exist, that target people who look out of place, weak or vulnerable. However, he said it was not any different from in other major cities around the world, where people are advised to avoid certain areas and possible dangerous situations.

Another security specialist said that crime looks for the easiest path and generally staying at resorts or hotels is safer. Stand alone homes often times do not have the level of security that a resort or hotel does and could be open on the ocean side, as the home in the rape incident was.

In addition, the security expert said that often times, travelers find themselves in higher risk situations because they venture outside the main tourist areas.

In Mexico, incidents that range from petty crime up to murder are very rare and tourists are targeted not because they are tourists, but because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Millions of travelers from the U.S. visit Mexico annually nevertheless, the State Department issued a warning to travelers back in November of 2012. The travel warning noted that tourist destinations and resort areas generally do not have the levels of crime and violence reported in some areas of the country.

The State Department website suggests that travels do not display signs of wealth while traveling and to maintain a low profile so as to not draw attention to you or the people you are with.

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