Talking Points: Mexico – Updated (December 9, 2016)

Talking Points – Safe Travel to Mexico

Copyright © 2016 – Travel Leaders Group LLC. All rights reserved.

The following Talking Points can be used in conversations with the media and clients when discussing travel to Mexico. (Updated December 9, 2016)

1. While the U.S. State Department updated its Travel Warning for Mexico, it does not warn against Americans traveling there, rather it further clarifies the relative safety of each state within Mexico with no advisories in effect for the most popular Mexican destinations we book.

2. Mexico has also been included in travel alerts issued by the CDC for two mosquito-borne viruses – Zika and chikungunya. In particular, pregnant women are advised not to travel to any area of Mexico below 6,500 feet.

3. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being. Safety is our top priority for our clients.

Below you will find additional information, supporting material and statistics to help further illustrate each talking point.

1. While the U.S. State Department updated its Travel Warning for Mexico, it does not warn against Americans traveling there, rather it further clarifies the relative safety of each state within Mexico with no advisories in effect for the most popular Mexican destinations we book.

 The State Department does not explicitly say, “Do not travel to Mexico.”

 The State Department aptly notes: “Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that organized criminal groups have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality.”

o It further states: “Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.”

o Major resort areas where Americans like to go, such as Cancun, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya and Cabo San Lucas are quite safe.

 The U.S. Department of State “warns U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling to certain parts of Mexico due to the activities of criminal organizations in those areas. U.S. citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery in various Mexican states.”

o “There is no evidence that criminal organizations have targeted U.S. citizens based on their nationality. ”

o “Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the level of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes. ”

o “U.S. government personnel are prohibited from patronizing casinos, sports books, or other gambling establishments in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Colima and Nayarit.”

 

o “U.S. citizens have been murdered in carjacking and highway robberies, most frequently at night and on isolated roads. Carjackers use a variety of techniques, including roadblocks, bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop, and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. There are indications that criminals target newer and larger vehicles, but drivers of old sedans and buses coming from the United States are also targeted.”

o “The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat organized criminal groups. U.S. citizens traveling on Mexican roads and highways by car or bus may encounter government checkpoints, staffed by military or law enforcement personnel. In some places, criminal organizations have erected their own unauthorized checkpoints, at times wearing police and military uniforms, and have killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You should cooperate at all checkpoints.”

 Major resort areas where Americans like to go, such as Cancun, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya and Cabo San Lucas are quite safe.

o According to the U.S. State Department, there are no travel advisories in place for:

 Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos (Please note that the State Department does advise Americans to exercise caution in Baja California and Baja California Sur)

 Campeche

 Chiapas (Palenque and San Cristobal de las Casas)

 Guadalajara (Please note that the State Department does advise Americans to defer non-essential travel to areas of Jalisco state along its border, and exercise caution in rural areas and on secondary highways.)

 Guanajuato (San Miguel de Allende and Leon)

 Hidalgo

 Mexico City

 Puebla

 Puerto Vallarta (Please note that the State Department does advise Americans to defer non-essential travel to areas of Jalisco state along its border, and exercise caution in rural areas and on secondary highways.)

 Queretaro

 Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum)

 Tabasco (Villahermosa)

 Tlaxcala

 Veracruz

 Yucatan (Merida and Chichen Itza)

 For Nayarit, which includes the Riviera Nayarit coast, the State Department allows government personnel to travel to Riviera Nayarit, San Blas, Santa María del Oro, Tepic, and Xalisco using major highways. Intercity travel at night is prohibited and all other non-essential travel to the state should be deferred.

 The State Department advises that travelers to Oaxaca City “remain in tourist areas” and U.S. government officials are not allowed to use public transportation there and from traveling on Highway 200 throughout the state, except transit between the airport in Huatulco and hotels.

 Still in effect, travelers are advised to stay within the tourist areas of Acapulco, Ixtapa, Zihuatanego and Mazatlan:

o For travel to Acapulco and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo:

 

 “Travel to the state of Guerrero, including Acapulco, is prohibited for U.S. Government personnel with the exception of travel to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo by air. In Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, US Government personnel must remain in tourist areas. The state of Guerrero was the most violent state in Mexico in 2015 for the third year in a row, and self-defense groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Armed members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and, although not considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered volatile and unpredictable.”

o For travel to Mazatlan:

 “Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa, except the cities of Mazatlan, Los Mochis, and the Port of Topolobampo, where you should exercise caution. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel in Mazatlan should be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to and from these locations and the airport. Travel in Los Mochis and Topolobampo is restricted to the city and the port, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport. Please see above for general conditions for travel in Mexico.”

o For travel to Monterrey:

 “Exercise caution in the state of Nuevo Leon. U.S. government personnel may travel outside the city of Monterrey only during daylight hours on toll roads, and must return to the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia municipal boundaries to abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., except for travel to the airport after 5 a.m.”

 Travelers are advised to exercise caution in Baja California and Baja California Sur:

o “Exercise caution in the northern state of Baja California, particularly at night. According to the Baja State Secretariat for Public Security, Tijuana and Rosarito continued to experience an increase in homicide rates from January to October 2015compared to the same period in the previous year. While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted criminal organization assassinations, turf battles between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured, have occurred during daylight hours.”

o “Exercise caution in the state capital of La Paz. According to the Department of Interior of Mexico, Baja California Sur continues to experience a high rate of homicides. Many of these homicides have occurred in La Paz, where there has been an increase in public acts of violence between rival criminal organizations.”

 Mexico is a huge country. Based on geographic size, it is among the top 15 largest independent nations in the world.

o The distance between the U.S./Mexico border, where much of the violence takes place, and Cancun – which is one of the top land-based international destination for Americans – is over 1,400 miles. That’s roughly the driving distance from Philadelphia to Dallas.

o The flying distance between the border and Cabo San Lucas is the same as between Oklahoma and Indiana.

2. Mexico has also been included in travel alerts issued by the CDC for two mosquito-borne viruses – Zika and chikungunya. In particular, pregnant women are advised not to travel to any area of Mexico below 6,500 feet.

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for Mexico, as well as other Latin American countries, related to the Zika virus. However, the CDC specifically advises that “Women who are pregnant should not travel to any area of Mexico below 6,500 feet.” See map.

o “Elevation may vary within an area to a larger extent than this map can depict. The presence of mosquitoes may change seasonally, with increasing temperatures or rainfall, and may change over time. Travelers to destinations that cross or are near an elevation border may wish to consider the destination as an area of lower elevation. Travelers to high elevations are still at risk of getting Zika from sex.”

o The mosquitoes that spread Zika usually do not live at elevations above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) because of environmental conditions. Travelers whose itineraries are limited to areas above this elevation are at minimal risk of getting Zika from a mosquito.

o “Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease (Zika) are fever, rash, joint pain, and red eye. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon,” according to the CDC.

o “In November 2015, Mexico reported the first local transmission of Zika virus infection (Zika). Local transmission means that mosquitoes in Mexico have been infected with Zika virus, spreading it to people. Because Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes, CDC recommends that travelers to Mexico protect themselves from mosquito bites.”

 Mexico now has the fourth largest number of confirmed Zika infections in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Pan American Health Organization.

o From fewer than 300 confirmed cases at the beginning of 2016, the number had climbed to 3,784 by October 6, and to 4,306 confirmed cases by October 10, according to Mexico’s national epidemiology board.

o The state of Veracruz on Mexico’s Gulf coast reports the highest number of infections at 1,110 followed by 748 in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, home to the tourist resort of Acapulco.

o The state of Quintana Roo, home to beach resorts on the Gulf coast including Cancun, has reported 196 cases.

o Mexico City is above the altitude set by the CDC and so is not considered an area at risk for Zika; there have been no recorded cases of infection in the capital.

 As of December 1, 2016, the Pan American Health Organization has reporter that no new countries or territories are reporting local transmission of the Zika virus.

 The CDC specifically warns pregnant women of the risks associated with Zika:

o Zika virus can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. There have been reports of a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. Knowledge of the link between Zika and these outcomes is

 

evolving, but until more is known, CDC recommends special precautions for the following groups:

o Women who are pregnant (in any trimester):

 Should not travel to any area of Mexico below 6,500 feet. Consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

 If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip.

 If you have a male partner who lives in or has traveled to an area where Zika transmission is ongoing, either use condoms or do not have sex during your pregnancy.

o Women who are trying to become pregnant:

 Before you or your male partner travel, talk to your doctor about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection.

 See CDC guidance for how long you should wait to get pregnant after travel.

 You and your male partner should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.

 A number of travel suppliers have been providing waivers to travelers seeking to cancel or change plans:

o Airlines – Three of the USA’s biggest airlines, American, United and Delta, are allowing some customers to cancel or postpone their trips if they’re ticketed to fly to areas affected by Zika.

 American Airlines says: “If you’re pregnant and traveling to a destination in Latin America or the Caribbean affected by the Zika virus, you and your travel companions can request a refund for tickets purchased on or before March 31, 2016. Just provide a doctor’s note confirming your pregnancy when you request a refund.” For more on American, please go here.

 Delta Air Lines will allow customers concerned about the Zika virus to cancel or postpone their trips if they were issued tickets on or before March 1, 2016, to fly to affected area. For more on Delta, please go here.

 “If you have a ticket for travel to a country affected by the Zika virus (as listed on the CDC website) and you are concerned about your travel, please contact the United Customer Contact Center with questions or to change your reservation. Customers who are advised to avoid the affected regions based on CDC guidance may change their destination or travel date without a change fee or may choose to receive a refund. The new travel date must be within the validity of the ticket. Additional charges may apply if there is a difference in fare for the new itinerary.” More on United.

o Cruise Lines

 “All Carnival Corp. brands will allow pregnant women to cancel their cruises in exchange for a future cruise credit for them and their traveling companions to rebook at a later time,” Travel Weekly reported.

 “Norwegian Cruise Line officials also said the line will work with any woman who is pregnant and past the point at which she can cancel her

 

cruise without penalty to come up with a solution,” Travel Weekly reported.

 A “Level 1 – Watch” has been issued for Mexico by the CDC, because of the chikungunya virus (pronunciation: \chik-en-gun-ye). Chikungunya is transmitted to people by mosquitoes.

o “The most common symptoms of chikungunya virus infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.”

 A CDC “Level 1: Watch” for travelers is its lowest level “Travel Health Notice,” which means to “practice usual precautions.” However, the CDC indicates that “some travelers may be more likely to get chikungunya, have severe disease or be at higher risk for other reasons. CDC advises travelers in high-risk groups to discuss their travel plans with their health care provider. These groups include the following:

o People who have arthritis

o People with serious underlying medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes)

o People older than 65

o Women who are late in their pregnancies, because of the risk to babies born at the time when their mother is sick

o Long-term travelers, including missionaries and humanitarian aid workers and people visiting friends and relatives

o People who might have difficulty avoiding mosquito bites, such as those planning to spend a lot of time outdoors or staying in rooms without screens or air conditioning.

 Dengue transmission has been widespread throughout Latin American countries in recent years. Cases of dengue continue to be reported in Mexico. In 2015 there were over 26,500 confirmed cases in 30 Mexican states.

3. All travelers, no matter what country they visit, can take precautions to help ensure their safety and well-being. Safety is our top priority for our clients.

 We provide the facts so our clients can make informed decisions about their travel plans.

 If our clients are going to pack one thing, we’d strongly recommend it be common sense. No matter what our clients’ age or destination, they should always use good common sense when it comes to their personal safety, just as they would at home.

 For mosquito-borne viruses, the World Health Organization (WHO) states: “Basic precautions should be taken by people traveling to risk areas and these include use of repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants and ensuring rooms are fitted with screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.”

o If a traveler becomes ill, he/she should:

 Talk to his/her doctor or nurse, especially if a fever is present and tell medical professionals about recent travel destinations.

 Get lots of rest and drink plenty of liquids.

 Take medicines, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain.

 

 Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of hemorrhage.

 To maximize one’s personal safety and security while traveling in Mexico or any other international destination:

o Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.

o Stay in the well-known tourist areas of the cities.

o Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.

o Visit only legitimate businesses and tourist areas, and avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur.

o Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member back home.

o Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G/4G international networks.

o Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items.

o Make every attempt to travel during daylight hours, and stick to main roads.

 The U.S. State Department also advises the following specifically for travel to Mexico: “U.S. citizens are encouraged to lower their personal profiles and to avoid displaying indicators of wealth such as expensive or expensive-looking jewelry, watches, or cameras. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid situations in which they may be isolated or stand out as potential victims.”

 We recommend that U.S. citizens follow the advice of the State Department and register their travel plans at https://step.state.gov. This will help the State Department contact travelers if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or in the event an emergency transpires in the place where the individual is traveling.

 We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website for travel alerts for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.

 Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can make determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.