The truth about "Cancun violence"
Updated: Jun 25, 2018
On April 3, 2018 there was a report that was released by the Mexican media about Cancun violence. It had some horrible headline like "14 killed in a matter of 36 hours in Cancun". This report was not only spun, but the very same report was re-installed into the media spotlight as if it was all new again several times. I go to Cancun a lot, this year so far it has been once in January, once in March, once in April and once is May, and it is June as of this writing. Here are a few things you should know.
1. Cancun is safe. That is no my opinion, its a fact. The hotel zone in Cancun is amazingly safe. Over 4 million people visit the Cancun hotel zone each year, there has been only 1 death in the last 12 months.
2. This April 3 report mentions no names, and it cannot therefore even be validated. Most of the locals do not believe it even happened. When I asked why would they not believe this report? Their answer was that the pri party is not in power in Cancun, it is one of the only towns they do not control. The locals allege that the pri party is making up these stories to make the party in power look bad. Wow, does political corruption have no end?! Seams like so many evil things can be traced back to a political agenda.
However, let's say that the report is true and that there are some dark places inside the city of Cancun, not the hotel zone which is already very safe. That would take us to point number 3.
3. I live in just outside Chicago Illinois. If you want to go somewhere that is statistically unsafe, Chicago is the place. We have the horrible distinction of being the most dangerous city in the US with 650 homicides in the last 12 months. However, would I ever hesitate to take my kids to a Cubs game, Bears game, Hawks game, Bulls game, museum, park, Navy Pier, or the big shopping districts in Cancun like Michigan Avenue? Of course not. Because the bad guys are not hanging out where all the tourists are. Same with Cancun.
Please do not let the media scare you away. Cancun should never have been part of any government's travel alert status considering its impeccable record of safety for its travelers.
Tim Miller