CANCUN — Travel agents and suppliers attending the Cruise Planners annual convention in Cancun last week were upbeat about selling travel to Mexico, despite the spate of bad news that has bedeviled the nation’s tourism industry and triggered client fears.
While the earthquakes that struck Mexico in September were devastating to the country, in the travel industry concerns have focused on reports of tourist blackouts and deaths linked to tainted alcohol, together with a U.S. State Department warning that gang-related violence has spread to popular beach resorts.
In August, the State Department expanded its travel warning about the dangers of criminal violence in Mexico to include Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos.
A month earlier, the State Department’s information page on Mexico added cautionary words about alcohol served there, stating in part: “There have been allegations that consumption of tainted or substandard alcohol has resulted in illness or blacking out.”
A travel agent, who asked not to be quoted by name, said any fears she had had been alleviated by visiting Cancun herself. “It’s such an amazing and beautiful country. I’m so glad to feel like we can still come and have amazing experiences here.”
