Mexico Tourism Marketing Blitz to Address Safety Concerns After Violence
Photo Credit: Mexico tourism officials plan to launch marketing campaigns to address negative headlines about the country. Pictured are tourists on a beach in Tulum, Mexico. Flickr / Matt Kieffer
Skift Take
Mexico's tourism industry has been lucky in the past year as the violence mostly hasn't targeted tourist destinations like Mexico City. But if history is any guide, tourism is often the focus for anyone wanting to cause harm and chaos. We hope we're wrong about this one.
Headlines about violent crime, drug wars, and a border wall in Mexico have flashed across TV sets and online sites in recent months. While Mexico's tourism industry claims it's been business as usual, it's clear that some marketing resources in popular destinations have been diverted to addressing safety rather than highlighting sexier elements like beaches and cuisine.
Much of the violence hasn't impacted or targeted tourists, and travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State don't include tourist areas such as Cancun, Riveria Maya, and Playa del Carmen.
Some 10.6 million international arrivals visited Mexico in the first quarter of 2018, up 12.6 percent compared to the same period last year. Mexico also became the sixth most visited country by international arrivals last year, up from the eight
