| Pages:
1
2
3 |
Tommy A
Nomad
Posts: 221
Registered: 5-19-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: Relaxed
|
|
How Mexico's drug war affects tourism L.A. Times article
What can travelers expect from Mexico in 2011? That's at least a $64-million question, given the many Americans who visit the country every year. And
the answers seem to point every which way.
Across Mexico, international visitors and drug-war casualties rose in 2010. As the country moves into its third century — and President Felipe
Calderon's drug war moves into its fifth year — experts say both trends could well continue.
Airlines are adding Mexican destinations. Several notable new lodgings are opening, including a pair in southern Baja California and two more in
artsy, historic San Miguel de Allende.
Gloria Guevara Manzo, Mexico's tourism secretary, has set a 2011 goal of boosting total tourist numbers by 15%.
And yet, "we're probably going to see similar or higher levels of violence next year," said Charles Pope, assistant director of the Trans-Border
Institute at the University of San Diego.
The Mexican government counted 12,456 drug-war deaths in the first 11 months of 2010, nearly twice as many such deaths as it counted in all of 2009.
Although the violence has been spreading, about 45% of those deaths occurred in two states: Chihuahua (which includes Juárez, the murder capital) and
Sinaloa.
Meanwhile, several other states remain relatively calm, including Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos and La Paz. (That state reported six
drug-war deaths in the year that ended June 30.) In much-visited Quintana Roo (which includes Cancún and Playa del Carmen), 42 drug-war deaths were
counted during that time.
In the state of Baja California, which includes Tijuana and the northern half of the Baja peninsula, the drug-war death tally was 352 for the 12
months that ended June 30. That might seem an alarming number, but it marked a decrease from 589 killings a year earlier.
"It's quite remarkable" to see tourism and violence tallies rising together at the national level, Pope said.
In its most recent Mexico warning, on Sept. 10, the U.S. State Department (www.travel.state.gov) outlined how the drug-war trouble varies by region and recapped its longstanding advice about concealing your jewelry,
traveling mostly by daylight, staying in well-trodden tourist areas, avoiding gypsy cabs and other measures.
For more advice and regional specifics, look at the guidance the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk/) gives to Brits bound for Mexico.
And while you're looking, remember that overall travel to Mexico has been rising. In the first 10 months of 2010, Mexican officials say, the country
received 8.2 million international visitors by air, business and leisure combined. That's 17.8% more than during the same period in 2009 and 6.4% more
than in 2008. The number of Americans in that group — 4.9 million — was up 13.5% over 2009.
Those numbers don't mean the tourist trade is thriving; the continuing deep discounts on Mexican cruises in 2011 are a clear sign that it takes
price-slashing to fill beds. But for many businesses, 2010 marked the beginning of the long crawl back after a disastrous 2009, when the drug wars and
a spate of fatal flu cases scared away million of travelers.
Though the weak recovery has kept many Americans and Canadians from traveling abroad, Mexico tourism spokeswoman Elizabeth Tjaden said, many see
Mexico as a more affordable option.
In Los Cabos, hotel occupancy in 2010 ran about 5% ahead of that in 2009. As the tentative recovery continues, Gonzalo Franyutti, president of Los
Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in an e-mail that he expected many lodgings to offer "added value" deals in the months ahead, while
airlines increase Mexico flights.
Earlier this month, Alaska Airlines launched thrice-weekly flights between San Jose and Los Cabos, four flights weekly between San Jose and
Guadalajara and three flights weekly between Sacramento and Guadalajara.
Meanwhile, Virgin America on Dec. 16 started flying between San Francisco and Los Cabos five times a week. On Jan. 19, the carrier will start flying
between LAX and Cancún (five times weekly), and on Jan. 20, it will start flying between San Francisco and Cancún (three times weekly).
Though recession has delayed or killed many hotel projects across the country, others have been completed.
In the historic expat refuge of San Miguel de Allende, about 180 miles northwest of Mexico City, an upscale 67-room Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
hotel is scheduled to open in early February. Opening rates begin at $295 a night (http://www.rosewoodsanmiguel.com).
Also in San Miguel, the boldly contemporary boutique Hotel Matilda, with 32 rooms, opened in September. Mid-January rates begin at $266 weekdays, $295
weekends (http://www.hotelmatilda.com).
In La Paz, the CostaBaja hotel complex open in November on the site of the old Fiesta Inn, with a spa, 250-slip marina and golf course designed by
Gary Player. It has been offering its 115 hotel rooms for $139 to $329 (http://www.costabajaresort.com).
In Cabo San Lucas, Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa (the fifth Solmar property in Los Cabos) is scheduled to open in February with 119 suites
(solmar2-px.trvlclick.com/solmar.html).
In Mazatlán, the beachfront, 71-room Las Villas Hotel & Spa opened in June within the Estrella del Mar resort area. Pre-tax rates begin at $120 a
night for a standard room
|
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
lack of surf this winter has hampered my tourism.....
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
It seems to me that people who travel to these resorts have, in their minds, isolated their destinations from the rest of the country. They turn
deaf ears to the horrendous activities taking place in other parts of the country and refuse to acknowledge their existance.
The resorts are seen as autonomous and crime doesn't exist.
And, when they return home, they carry the message that Mexico is the perfectly peaceful paradise.
Sounds like a step in the dirrection of tolerance to crime as long as the Samba lessons arn't disturbed.
Very disturbing.
|
|
|
bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
That was thoughtful, Dennis. So do you have any practical suggestions as to what people who are concerned about the horrendous activities can do about
them? (I can't think of any.)
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Almost sounds to me that Dennis is proposing a tourism boycott. Thing is that it would be tantamount to boycotting New York because of gang violence
in Detroit.
And since the cartels don't really rely on tourism for their revenue, if tourists stop going to Mexico, it won't matter to the cartels, but will
certainly harm the vast numbers of hard working Mexicans employed in the tourist sector.
|
|
|
bajatravelergeorge
Nomad
Posts: 154
Registered: 9-21-2010
Location: Baja Norte
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
|
|
Drug dollars are being used to buy or build hotels, restaurants, clubs in the turist zones. The cartels don't want violence there.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalera
That was thoughtful, Dennis. So do you have any practical suggestions as to what people who are concerned about the horrendous activities can do about
them? (I can't think of any.) |
No...I don't know. It just seems self-consumed for individuals and hospitality businesses to ignore the fact that just up the road someone may be
having his head cut off.
I mean...look at Acapulco. Cliff divers basking in celebrity splendor as streets around the town are running red with blood.
"Yes folks, our beaches are beautiful. When you're not floundering in the sand to improve your tan, stick your head in the stuff."
|
|
|
wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalera
That was thoughtful, Dennis. So do you have any practical suggestions as to what people who are concerned about the horrendous activities can do about
them? (I can't think of any.) |
Can't speak for Dennis... but, for me... legalize it all... ya know, take the money out of it..... won't touch all the poverty.. and such.. but, would
certainly slow down this grinding conflict which does not seem to have any light at the end of the tunnel...
The war on drugs has been going on since the 60's... sure has been some real progress made.. how many tunnels they get this year... how many boat
loads, how many mules.. et al...
Not getting the bang for the buck... with this approach... plus folks are going to use it legally or illegally .... and it doesn't come from Mexico,
it will get here from Africa, Europe (remember the French Connection) well it's still working... aaaaahhhhhh how ya think they are getting all that
"smack" out of Afaganistan .... to the United States... the route has been used since it was called the "Silk Road" for the past thousand of years or
so....
And let's not forget "Smugglers Gulch" on the fence road going to Plays Tijuana...
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Almost sounds to me that Dennis is proposing a tourism boycott. |
Nope. Not me. That's already been done. It's the efforts to undo the damage that have my attention.
| Quote: | | And since the cartels don't really rely on tourism for their revenue, if tourists stop going to Mexico, it won't matter to the cartels, but will
certainly harm the vast numbers of hard working Mexicans employed in the tourist sector. |
Sounds like justification for a state sponsered Whitewash. Turn off the news. Allow no reports to leak out.
Sounds Orwellian to me. New-Speak revisited. If there is no news, nothing happened. hmmmmm....
|
|
|
DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
|
|
Being that I live in Mexico my comment is that out of all the deaths being tallied only a minority have anything to do with law enforcement efforts.
Wars between gang elements is inevitable and that inevitability extends to involving the general public and involving tourists. If law enforcement
ceases, then downtown Cancun, Tecate, Tijuana and San Lucas are destined to become battlefields.
When alcohol was legalized the mafia members didn't go back to spinning pizzas, and collecting trash. You can make all drugs SUBSIDIZED in both Mexico
and the USA, PAY PEOPLE to use free drugs and the sicarios are not going to go away in Mexico. Get used to it. They are into the rackets heavy duty,
kidnapping, extortion, protection, and even influencing government contracts, they are into unions, just about everywhere.
In addition to paying people to use drugs, the US government could also throw in thousand dollar incentives to not visit Mexico, and close the
borders. It would not close down los carteles.
Read US history and find out what hammer was used to control organized crime. Mexico must do the same or be forever enmeshed in violence.
|
|
|
wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
|
|
Didn't suggest make them free... just legal.. and remove that aspect of the problem...
Organized crime has always existed.. just has.. some folks can't or do not want to follow the path used by many to make their way in life.. I can deal
with that...
As for kidnapping, extortion, protection... perhaps Mexico should adopt sentencing which includes the DEATH PENALTIY... some don't think of it as a
deterrent... well, that's what some think...
I grew up with the death penalty firmly in place in the Untied States ... and for me it was certainly a deterrent... however, not some that I grew up
with... but.. then who really thinks there are absolutes ... about the only ones I know is death and taxes .. it's pretty much absolute.. either you
are dead or you're not... and we ALL pay taxes...
As for "hammers used" for organized crime in the states... ya got to be kidding.. the organized crime now exists in the White House in Washington DC
and it's not party dependent.... by a long shot...
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
What hammer was used? 
--Larry |
Was this it??
http://www.pandius.com/ThompsonM1A1VWM.jpg
http://tf.org/images/covers/TheUntouchables-tf.org-freee-200...
.
[Edited on 12-26-2010 by DENNIS]
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
I just don't get the idea that the death penalty is a deterrent. First of all, many murders are crimes of passion, and I highly doubt whether the perp
spent any time pondering this issue. Second, most truly hardened criminals, if they even think about it, might consider it to be a form of martyrdom.
I absolutely beg someone to show me any relevant information to support the idea that execution has deterred crime.
We can go back and forth on the death penalty. Lord knows that it's been going on and on. But, there is absolutely no statistical evidence that it is
a deterrent to crime. So, at the end of the day, it is state sponsored murder. Perhaps, those who have been victimized, may feel better for it. But
should the state be acting to make its citizens feel better?
Just don't think that enough folks can get past the idea of state sponsored retribution and understand that life in prison without the possibility of
parole is a much greater punishment to these folks. And, while I suspect that I'll hear from people telling me that being in prison comes with
benefits of laundry service and cable TV, I don't buy it. Sow me the proof.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I just don't get the idea that the death penalty is a deterrent. |
Neither are garbage trucks, but they get rid of the garbage.
.
[Edited on 12-27-2010 by DENNIS]
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
The simple fact is that under the current legal system, the tax payers spend millions of dollars to run these cases through the system for decades.
Given that, and the fact that we have executed innocent people, it just seems to me that a victory would be gained if we just eliminated the death
penalty and had these bastards incarcerated in the conditions they deserved. There are studies that show this actually saves money. And, it certainly
wouldn't involve the execution of those who are not guilty.
|
|
|
tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Howard,
They don't STAY in jail.
Ken
|
|
|
Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajatravelergeorge
Drug dollars are being used to buy or build hotels, restaurants, clubs in the turist zones. The cartels don't want violence there.
|
"It's quite remarkable" to see tourism and violence tallies rising together at the national level, Pope said."
see- not really that remarkable. 
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
and had these bastards incarcerated in the conditions they deserved. |
Your ACLU won't allow that. They must be pampered and nurtured toward rehabilitation.
I say kill them. Our society isn't supposed to be a half-way house.
Kill them dead. One shot to the back of the head. Burn them to ash and use what's left of them to soak up spilled oil in the motor pool.
Why are we not allowed to rid our society of scourge and pestilence? Why do we constantly have to come to terms with germs?
|
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
and had these bastards incarcerated in the conditions they deserved. |
Your ACLU won't allow that. They must be pampered and nurtured toward rehabilitation.
I say kill them. Our society isn't supposed to be a half-way house.
Kill them dead. One shot to the back of the head. Burn them to ash and use what's left of them to soak up spilled oil in the motor pool.
Why are we not allowed to rid our society of scourge and pestilence? Why do we constantly have to come to terms with germs? |
took the words outta my mouth... i was gonna quote:
"Given that, and the fact that we have executed innocent people, it just seems to me that a victory would be gained if we just eliminated the death
penalty and had these bastards incarcerated in the conditions they deserved."
howzabout the innocent that were "executed" by 99% of the guilty turds? and, just what "conditions" would you propose that would serve these POS in
their just conditions? no tv?
i'm with Dennis. one review of your case, and a bullet to your skull. seems like it would deter, i mean, save a lot of lives....
|
|
|
DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
|
|
The "hammer" was FBI accountants helping the IRS. This all ties into a tidy package with the R.I.C.O. act.
But we've a long wait for Mexico to try and catch up I fear.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
