The Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco, which has been plagued by a wave of drug-related violence, is dealing with an unprecedented image crisis, Guerrero state Tourism Development Secretary Graciela Baez said.
Acapulco, one of the oldest tourist destinations in Mexico, “is experiencing the worst image crisis in its history,” Baez said in a press conference Tuesday.
Crime is the main reason that tourists are staying away from Acapulco, but “worn out” infrastructure and a bad public transit system are also problems, the tourism development secretary said.
Acapulco needs support from the federal government “more than ever,” Baez, who took office on Monday, said.
The Tourism Secretariat had plans to turn the annual Tianguis tourism fair, which has been held for 35 years in Acapulco, into a traveling exhibition, Baez said.
“Acapulco does not need to lose events,” the tourism development secretary said.
Preliminary figures indicate that both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals are falling in the resort city, Baez said.
The new state government’s main goal is to target the U.S. market and identify marketing opportunities, the tourism development secretary said.
Acapulco has been the scene of several drug-related killings in the past few days linked to a broader war for control of the area being waged by several drug cartels.
The Cartel Independiente de Acapulco, the Pacifico Sur cartel and the Gulf cartel have been fighting for control of the resort city.
Gunmen clashed with federal and state security forces Monday in an incident that featured the use of grenades and started fires in several businesses.
In January, 22 people were massacred in Acapulco by suspected members of the Cartel Independiente de Acapulco, officials said.
Of the 22 victims, 15 were beheaded, and all the bodies were dumped outside a shopping center along with so-called “narcomessages.”
The war between the rival drug cartels left 370 people dead last year in Acapulco alone.
The violence has prompted tourists, especially those from abroad, to stay away from Acapulco.
Former Tourism Development Secretary Ernesto Rodriguez Escalona warned in February that Acapulco would likely be avoided this year by spring breakers from the United States and Canada.
“We lost the spring break season completely in Acapulco,” Rodriguez Escalona said.
About 13,000 college students spent their spring breaks in the resort city last year, the hotel association said.
Source: EFE
It's only going to get worse as long as drug trafficking is more important to Mexico then main stream commerce, sad that corrupted goverment is killing itself, if you think the addicts that are buying the drugs are going to last forever? The demand is going down and nobody wants to fund the horror that is going unabated everyday.
ReplyDeleteWell put 6:16!
ReplyDeleteImjustagirl
Nah, Mexico dont need a death penalty, what for? All of the narcos can be rehabilitated to become law abiding citizens...
ReplyDeleteGet off your lazy ass and clean the place up.
ReplyDeleteToo many people in Mexico and especially Guerrero get jobs based upon who their family members are, not based upon qualifications. I know several in the state tourism board and these jobs are handed to them. It's also important to point out that many in local government and tourism business are in denial that Acapulco has a problem....They seem to be unable to deny it any further due to the escalation.
ReplyDeleteIt's really ashame what's happened in that city and for anyone who never visited it, I'd have to say the people who are not involved really deserve better. Good people and great memories in Aca. If things calm down 2yrs from now, I suspect the Mex City crowd will return and from there hopefully international visitors as IMO Aca is a cut above other destinations.
Vallarta is much better than Aca
ReplyDeleteHard to spend money on infrastructure, attractions, and tidying up when there is no income coming in to the businesses which ultimately foot the bill for things like this. Whether the 'check' actually comes from the government or not, the businesses that made the money in the first place paid for it with their tax dollars.
ReplyDeleteAll the 'cuotas' businesses are shelling out are futher dollars down the drain that could go for improvements. So sad. So sad...
Does anyone know how many total murders acapulco has had so far this year it seems like theres days where theres more killings in aca then in juarez im guessing there is at least 150 murders in aca this year but like i first mentioned does anyone know whats the real actual number?
ReplyDeleteLegalazacion
ReplyDeleteIs it really an "Image" problem or are they having difficulties with their business because the tourists keep tripping over severed heads.
ReplyDeleteAcapulco is pretty high in murders right now up to last week there have been more then 300 murders.Last year there were more then 1000 killings in acapulco with its population of around 1 million.There arent to many articles and stats about the murder rate there thats why you dont hear to much about the 1000+ murders in aca cuz they try to keep it hidden from the public and more from american turists.The politics dont want acapulco a top money earning resort city in mexico to get named one of the most dangerous cities in mexico. The city was just behind juarez in total homicides last year.
ReplyDelete