During a recent high-level meeting between Consul General Justin Thomas and Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama, the US official made positive comments about the state’s overall security.
These comments were confirmed just two days later when the US State Department reassessed the situation Travel advice for Mexico, concluded that places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum remain relatively safe for Americans to visit, although some safety measures were recommended.
Mexico is one – if not the only – country in the world where the United States is conducting a comprehensive state security review.
While it is common for the agency to make recommendations on specific areas within a country, especially those near borders with troubling neighbors, there is no other destination in the world where the U.S. conducts such a thorough review.
In his most recent review the US updated its advice for Chiapas and Durango but made no changes for Quintana Roo, leaving the Caribbean state on ‘Exercise Heightened Caution’, a level of advice similar to that for countries such as Spain or Italy.
However, not everything is fun and games. According to the advisory, crime and violence can happen at any time, including in tourist locations.
Shootings between rival gangs have also occurred in several locations, injuring and killing innocent bystanders, including Americans. Nevertheless, the advisory notes that such violence is not specifically directed against U.S. citizens, as is the case in other regions such as the Middle East.
The government also wants citizens to be aware that the number of murders and assaults in Tulum has increased recently.
In the meantime, Consul Thomas praised Governor Mara Lezama’s work on security, stating that he considers Quintana Roo a safe state for Americans to visit.
“Strong and close relations exist between the United States and the State. I believe the administration of Governor Mara Lezama has been phenomenal in terms of cooperation,” he said.
Mexico as a whole remains the top destination for Americans, attracting nearly 40 million visitors annually, while Quintana Roo alone brings home 12 million of those travelers.
Regarding this figure, Thomas said that Quintana Roo is considered a safe state and emphasized that “the warnings are just protocols to follow and not necessarily to prevent people from traveling.”
“For us, Quintana Roo is above all a safe destination for the more than twelve million Americans who travel annually, so safety is essential and we see that work is being done in that direction.”
He also emphasized the need to maintain and improve safety at the destination.
“I believe that safety strategies can always be strengthened, as our goal is that tourists traveling to Quintana Roo have an excellent experience, not only in terms of safety, but in every respect.”