Traveling through Mexico has always been on the mental map of the adventurers, but sometimes people don’t know if México is a safe place to travel.
Why is this perception planted in our minds?
Mexico has an enormous spread of blessing: for example its traditions, its food, its nature, the small towns, its history, its archaeology, its art and its endless wealth, even in the hospitality of its people you will remember this country.
For every foreigner that has the interest their in mind, Mexico is a country with a lot of personality, we are always generating news (good or bad) and maybe there is where all the things started.
We are like an open book that has nothing to hide, and we all are responsible for it, we had communicated what we see, what we believe we put it in evidence.
I think that part of being transparent has been evolving a long time ago, and today it is reinforced through the social media; the communication media has not more all the power to inform, we also have that power as the citizens.
With all that in mind, I sometimes worry when I see that other countries’ news do not transcend, and it is maybe because those countries have a set protocol for sharing news.
Here is when I think Mexico has earned by hand the lost of confidence, but the truth is that all the countries in the world have their dirty laundry to hide.
So, when someone ask me if México is a safe place to travel and he or she is a national or a foreigner, what I do it is to respond with the question. Why do you have that perception of insecurity of traveling through Mexico?.
They had responded to me with all the themes of insecurity, burglary, corruption and filthiness, and yes in that order.
Stereotypes also play a role
In the other hand, there are some people that left with the impression of some stereotypes of our country that has damaged us as a society.
Like that very common big sombrero man that sleeps under a cactus, or sleeping next to a donkey; or that image of that country where only beans and chile it’s eaten, that we sing with mariachis and drink tequila until we are wasted on the floor like typical drunks.
But inside all those stories there are many others and in many latitudes of the world, for example: Is it true that all Paris folks stink like the skunks?
Truly all those cartoon stereotypes show the smallest part of our daily life. We are a lot more that that. and you know? there are some people that come in looking for all those seals that are characteristic of Mexico for many years.
That does not mean that we should be ashamed of it. On the contrary, we are proud of our mariachis and the tequila, the chile that makes us feel like machos and the beans that make us strong.
Everyone who comes to Mexico doesn’t plan to leave, Yes,México Is a safe place to travel
Mexico is much more than we had heard from, good or bad you will be surprised everyday.
Friends of mine that have made their home here, they would not trade it for anything, they love it to the very core of their beans, and you know something else? Everybody is welcome here, we do not know the word xenophobia.
In my career going through different companies that cater to the tourism, I have spoken to many travelers that know our Mexico -even better that our local people-.
They have been very delighted, that they are the first ones to promote us, even before any entity that is dedicated to promote our country.
The truth is that all that has put a foot in this generous land, he or she is trapped for all the marvelous nature and culture, for the food, because it is at the reach of any budget and for the warmth of our people.
Thanks for that “word of mouth”, other travelers decide to visit us and live the reality of the country hat has it all for those that have the desire to discover it.
And now I invite you to take away those stigmas that shade Mexico and accepting that we should let our emotions be the guide to know this country, to stroll, to taste like many travelers do it day by day.
México has it all that’s why México Is a safe place to travel
We have a History to envy like none other, from our pre-Hispanic ancestors, those civilizations were mathematically advanced, the astronomy, knowledge of herbs to cure, architecture, and lots of more sciences, that even in our times we still been surprised.
Mexico not only has beautiful beaches (11 thousand kilometers of coasts of them) it also county with 176 natural protected areas and it is one of the five countries with mayor diversity in the world.
We count with 33 sites recognized as world heritage from the UNESCO, that indicates the we are the first country in Latinoamerica with more recognition and the sixth at world level.
Culture wise, we show up with an extended range of archeologic places, monuments, around some 1,200 museums, and great wealthiness of Indian tribes, tongues, arts and crafts, colonial architecture.
111 magic towns and a vast gastronomy that is recognized also as a World Heritage, México it’s amazing! you need to visit it.
And also we count with advanced cities, high technology, industry and science. All these are the values that put Mexico in the ten countries most visited in the world; around 30 million of tourists come annually (2015).
I invite you to visit us, México is a safe place to travel
With all that said, I invite you to visit Mexico without thinking about you going to be the victim of someone.
Can you imagine if the millions of Mexicans that we live here would be afraid to go out thinking that something is going to happen to us? Well then we would not have a country with a growing economy, neither the foreigner investors would be increasing.
Let me put you an example, with all its “warnings”, the United States is our first tourist market, I’m just saying!
So rounding a little bit, if, it is safe to travel through Mexico if we take our precautions, there are armed groups en few areas away from our tourist destinations, or away from sites that the tourist frequent.
Do we have some of these cases? yes, we had very few and are the least of the them, where unfortunately the tourist had to pay for it for being there in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I am not going to tell you about the burglaries, delinquency and other minor things, because for that there are other communication media, but I will tell you of compatriots’ cases.
Security measures must be taken worldwide
Like when some Mexicans were affected in the attempts that happened in Paris, or those traveling nationals, that were hurt in Egyptian Territory.
This is not to conform, this is a reality that we are living in our days all over the world. It is not a standard that belongs only to Mexico.
And you believe that to all those alerts the tourism stop traveling? Of Course Not! Traveling is one of the activities that liberates you the most in the human life and I can say that, it is the most basic in the world today.
We all need to travel! due to a job, to have fun, to increase learning or relaxation, an México is the best option to do it.
So let me invite you to get close to people that had the experience to come to our country with fears and have left with positive experiences that they will never forget.
Those who talk bad about us are the ones that in reality do not know our country. We are good people in its majority and we are hard workers.
To take precautions to have a good vacation would be ideal, and these not only when you come to Mexico, if not measures of precautions that we have to take when we travel abroad Internationally.
Here I leave you with a list of the things you have to take in consideration when you travel.
Recommendations:
- Put your money in different pockets of your clothes.
- Always be alert of your belongings and your electronic equipment.
- Do not travel with jewelry, you don’t need them to visit places, except of course if you have a mega event to attend. (Wedding, convention, etc.) Use the security boxes from your hotel.
- Inform your friends or family members the sequence of your itinerary.
- Scan your documents, visas, passports, reservations, driver license, airline tickets, itinerary, etc.: and send them to your own email address and someone you know and trust.
- Do not visit places that don’t have a touristy infrastructure o places you do not know.
- Eat in well establish restaurants or where you see a lot of people go to, because it is probably going to be good food.
- It is basic to know a little of bit of the language of the country you are visiting, to ask for help or to ask something like directions.
- If you rent a car get a total insurance cover for it.
Si eres mexicano
- Do not be afraid to discover other the different states, we have somewhat 70 tourist centers that are waiting for you. Remember that in hard times, we the Mexicans are the ones that are traveling to re-activate the economy in our country.
- As hosts we have a great responsibility, there is nothing worse than a Mexican disgrace our own land and our own compatriots.
- Congratulation, we as hosts are unique, let not loose that essence that makes us special.
- If you take a look, one of each 11 job are involved with the tourist sector.
For example hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, leasers, travel operators, railroads, bus lines, museums, archaeological zones, team parks, agencies… lets make tourism!, sure someone that you know dedicates his life doing it.
We have seen in this compendium where the tourism is one of the most vulnerable activities, but it only needs a little bit of confidence and to hear something that encourage to travel through México and to make the right decision.
Do not think it twice and discover Mexico! Trust me, México is a safe place to travel, just take the adventure and remember #NeverStopTraveling #NuncaDejesDeViajar
