Mayor Finds Ulterior Motive in Travel Alerts against Acapulco

(Acapulco, AN 20 January) Travel alerts issued by European countries not to travel to Mexico for reasons of violence appear to have an aspect of commercial self-interest and economic competition, explained Acapulco’s interim mayor, José Luis Ávila Sánchez. They are making reports that are “far distant from reality.” The mayor assumes that this tactic is to favor other vacation destinations nearer home. “It is a shame that they have to resort to these unworthy tactics just to gain a little ground or damage other tourist destinations because of economic competition. Acapulco for itself is here to give and bestow [fun for tourists]; it is a tourist destination with the best providers of service and the most beautiful bay in the world.”

Ávila Sánchez added that in February– after the elections – Acapulco will launch a new promotional campaign targeted at tourists in Mexico City. The city and state have both been criticized by the private sector for not doing enough to counteract the poor image given to Acapulco by reason of all the press reports of violence, even though virtually all incidents take place in poor neighborhoods far away from the tourist areas. José Cedano Galera, president of the College of Tourism Professionals pointed out that the head of the state tourism office is a political appointee with no background in tourism. The same criticism has been leveled at those holding federal and municipal positions of the same nature.