Update on Travel to the State of Quintana Roo

Royal Resorts has published this thorough statement concerning travel to the state of Quintana Roo:

August 23, 2018

You may have seen media reports this week mentioning Cancun. We hope that this update answers any concerns that you might have about the area. Our advice is to continue with your vacation plans. It is safe to travel to Cancun, the Riviera Maya, the Yucatan Peninsula and many other parts of Mexico.

Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and other destinations in the state of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula as a whole have always been, and remain, among the safest places in the world for visitors. However, violence associated with organized crime can occur anywhere in the world and unfortunately, Cancun has seen a number of homicides in recent days linked to disputes between  rival criminal groups. These incidents took place in districts of the city that are not frequented by tourists and that are miles away from the Hotel Zone on Cancun Island.

A number of articles published in the United States report that a new US State Department travel advisory for Mexico was issued in response to these incidents. This is false. There are no Travel Warnings about Cancun, the Riviera Maya or any other destination in the state.

The Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council issued a statement on August 22, 2018 saying: “We are aware of recent media reports falsely stating that the U.S. Department of State has issued a new travel advisory for Mexico due to a recent event in the state of
Quintana Roo.

There is no new travel advisory for Quintana Roo from the State Department. There are currently zero U.S. State Department Travel Warnings against any destination in the state of Quintana Roo and there are zero Travel Warnings against any international tourist destination in Mexico…”

Safety of visitors is a top priority for Mexico

Mexico is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, welcoming over 39 million visitors in 2017. The safety of visitors wherever they are in the country is a priority for the government. The authorities are extremely vigilant in all tourist
destinations and major cities.

Millions of tourists visit the Mexican Caribbean each year and the authorities work closely to ensure the safety of visitors and residents. Security has been further upgraded this year with the implementation of additional monitoring measures and extra police patrols for the cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Interpreting travel advisories

The US State Department travel advisory system classifies threat levels in countries around the world from 1 to 4, with 1 being the lowest threat level and 4 the highest.

Mexico is in the Level 2 category, which is the same as many European countries such as Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy and the recommendation is for ‘Visitors to Exercise Caution.’ The current US State Department Mexico travel advisory places no restrictions on  visiting Cancun, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta or Los Cabos, some of the world’s most popular vacation spots.

Some Mexican states that have seen an upsurge in violence associated withorganized crime are classified as having a higher threat level. In some of these cases, specific regions of the state that may be off the tourist track anyway are mentioned, for example, remote mountainous or border areas and certain highways, towns or specific neighborhoods in cities.

The key to safe travel anywhere is common sense

Major cities in the US and around the world have neighborhoods with a reputation for crime and gang violence and this is also the case in Mexico. Common sense is the key to safety wherever you travel, whether at home or abroad, and may we suggest that you take certain precautions, just as you would if you were going to a new city in your own country or elsewhere.

Always be aware of your surroundings and stay alert, stick to reputable restaurants, bars and other establishments in well-known tourist areas of the city and drink responsibly. Do not display expensive jewelry or large amounts of cash in public. Take care when visiting unfamiliar areas and avoid walking alone at night through poorly lit neighborhoods or isolated areas.

Don’t drive in isolated areas at night and always use toll roads for longer journeys

The sale, possession and consumption of illegal drugs is a federal offence in Mexico.

Security at Royal Resorts

Royal Resorts has the security and comfort of its members and guests as its top priority. Security guards patrol the resorts and the beaches 24 hours a day. There are closed circuit cameras in public areas and other key locations.

There is no reason for you to change your travel plans. You’ll enjoy your stay in Cancun, the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan.