According to Marie Callan, author and collaborator for BanderasNews.com, although many college students are either already sipping margaritas on a Mexican beach, or have had their spring break destinations booked for weeks, the U.S. State Department is reminding students that a travel warning for Americans headed to Mexico remains in place.
And, though the U.S. State Department has not issued (or updated) a Mexico travel warning since December 8, 2016, the U.S. media has been going out of its way this week to keep it in the ‘public eye’ in an effort to keep college students (and their dollars) close to home.
It is estimated that over 2 million college students will be on spring break over the next few weeks and the majority of them will spend their break away from home. But for a destination to be spring break-worthy, it’s got to be affordable, accessible and popular among the college cohort.
That’s why, year after year, Mexico tops the charts for hot spring break destinations. This year is no exception, with students from all around the United States booking their vacations in places like Puerto Vallarta, which was ranked at #5 on US & World News Report‘s list of the ‘Top 10 Best Spring Break Destinations for 2017.’
A crowd gathers in front of the stage during a taping for MTV Spring Break on the beach at The City nightclub March 8, 2005 in Cancun, Mexico. (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images
And while it’s true that parts of Mexico are in turmoil, what’s lost in the uproar over the headlines is that many spring break resort areas haven’t been affected. In fact, the State Department says there is “no evidence that criminal organizations have targeted U.S. citizens based on their nationality” and that the Mexican government devotes “substantial resources to keep tourists safe.”
A record-breaking 35 million international visitors traveled to Mexico in 2016, and the Mexico Tourism Board’s internal consumer tracking studies showed that more than 94% of visitors reported an experience that “exceeded their expectations,” with 86% saying they would “like to come back again.”
“Millions of Americans visit Mexico each year – including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day,” the U.S. State Department says. “However, as always, travelers are urged to be cautious and use common sense, irrespective of their destination.”
Read the full Mexico travel warning, which was last updated on December 8, 2016, on the U.S. State Department’s website.
By Marie Callan for BanderasNews.com
