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How Drug-Related Violence in Mexico Affects Tourism Statistics Around the World: 2014 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards

Vacationers are still scared of drug wars, cartels, and violence in Mexico, even though we don’t read as much about drug-related deaths in the media these days as we did three years ago (of course, apart from the recent Guerrero mass murder).

Each year, Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel and tourism website, publishes the Travelers’ Choice Awards rankings for global, national and regional tourism preferences in a number of categories. The 2014 award figures clearly indicate that vacationers are still wary of visiting Mexico, but take comfort in the comfort, safety and security of Mexico’s all-inclusive resorts, preferring them to others around the world.

Mexico did not rank at all in the worldwide categories of Best Small Hotels, Best B&Bs and Inns, Best Rising Destinations, Favorite Restaurants, or in the more general Best Destinations category. It obtained a rating in the category of Best Beaches in the World, as number ten out of 25 for Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres. Similarly, it earned a Best Hotels in the World rating, but only for The Saint Regis Punta Mita Resort in Punta de Mita. And presumably due to the dollar/peso exchange rate, it ranked 21st and 25th in Bargain Hotels in the World, with The Bungalows Hotel (Cabo San Lucas) and Luz in Yucatán (Mérida), respectively.

However, it is in the World’s Best All-Inclusive Resorts category that Mexico really shines, suggesting that, seen within the context of its lack of placement in the other categories, yes, the public still fears for its safety due to drug violence in Mexico. , cartels and wars, but that vacationers feel safe and secure when they stay at an all-inclusive resort, isolated from everyday Mexican life.

In the category of the 25 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, Mexico occupied 11 rankings, including the first five of eight places. Here are the impressive results:

1) Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso (Paradise Beach)
3) The Beloved Hotel (Women Beach)
5) Excellence Playa Mujeres (Women Beach)
6) Le Blanc Spa Resort (Cancun)
8) Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun (Maroma Beach)
16) Cancun Riviera Excellence (Puerto Morelos)
17) Live Aqua Cancun All Inclusive (Cancun)
19) Club Med Ixtapa Pacific (Ixtapa)
21) Secret Silversands Riviera Cancun (Puerto Morelos)
22) Palace of Cozumel (Cozumel)
25) Palace of the Sun (Cancun)

Mexico is generally a safe country to vacation. Just stick to anywhere other than rampant drug-related violence and turf wars between drug gangs. Of course, naysayers who have never been here would disagree. Consider, for example, safe havens like Chiapas, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende and similar expat enclaves, the Yucatan, the Pacific resorts…and yes, all-inclusives. Take no more or no less care than you would on vacation in any other developing country and you should generally be fine; and better yet, enjoy your trip to Mexico as much or more than in other vacation spots.