Despite violence in border areas, Mexico expects another uptick in foreign visitors this year

Tourism directly employs 2.5 million people in Mexico. Photo by Abir Anwar.

Mexico expects a record number of foreign tourist arrivals this year despite security problems stemming from drug violence, Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara told Efe.

The number of foreigners who entered Mexico between January and July rose by 6 percent relative to the same period of 2011, and therefore Guevara expects last year's record of 23.4 million foreign tourists will be eclipsed.

"We have 2,500 municipalities, according to figures from the government secretary, and the challenges we're experiencing are concentrated in 80 of them. However, the tourists go to tourist destinations and those are tranquil. They're at peace," Guevara said.