subject: Cancun Real Estate; Spring Tourism Strong, Despite Negative Media [print this page] Cancun Real Estate; Spring Tourism Strong, Despite Negative Media
Although the area is far from the places which see the drug-related violence which shows up in the media, one of the most common objections to living in Cancun which shows up among those who have never been to the area is this very fact.
On the other hand, those who have been to Cancun know that the area is very safe, for both visitors and Cancun real estate buyers. This can be seen in the recent spring break numbers.
Despite a very highly negative media focus on the country, and even safety statements from government sources such as the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. State Department, reports have shown that travel agencies focused on students and youth during spring break 2011 have seen a very strong come back for travel to Mexico. Funjet Vacations, for example, enjoyed a 15% increase in numbers for tourists visiting Mexico during March 2011 as compared to March 2010.
Most of these spring breakers were headed to Cancun. Cancun has, in fact, been number one or two world-wide for most companies selling spring break packages.
Real estate buyers may wonder what's the deal with these numbers. Are these young people just too careless to consider the danger?
Quite the contrary, these young travelers have spoken to others who have been to Cancun previous years. What the hear about is lots of fun, beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and prices they can afford. The drug wars going up a thousand miles away near the U.S. border don't figure into the picture. It's also very rare that an American is a victim of robbery and other crime; in fact, despite the huge attention the news gets every time there is an unfortunate event of this sort, statistics show that it is actually less common that Americans are victims of serious crimes in places like Cancun than in most places in the U.S., both in pure numbers and percentage wise. That's why the spring breakers don't hear about this from their friends who went to Cancun last year, and why they aren't scared off.
For Cancun real estate buyers, the same concept applies. Yes the government warnings are there for a reason; there are parts of Mexico, just like parts of the U.S., which tourists do better to avoid. These are mostly near the U.S. border with a pocket or two in the interior of the country. Interested buyers who talk to vacationers or other expats will realize that those people don't talk about crime in Mexico; it's not that it's topic they want to avoid, it's simply that they don't think about it. It's not something that figures into day to day life.
Interested buyers concerned about these issues shouldn't ignore them; they should find some people who've been to Cancun, on regular vacations, or who live here part of the year, and ask them about it. That way, they can rest assured that they are buying their vacation or retirement property in a safe, comfortable, warm and enjoyable place!
