| | |  Travel & Outdoors | November 2009 
Mexico Sees Continued Drop in Tourism
 Valarie DElia - YNN
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November 23, 2009
Mexican tourism is down about 20 percent this year as a result of a trifecta of trouble: the recession, the swine flu and the perception that it is a dangerous place to visit.
"We have felt a dramatic drop in tourist visits to Mexico. Not only in the U.S. but Canada and many other places," said Guadalajara tour guide Ofelia Alatorre.
The drop in tourism is a major concern to the Mexican tourism industry.
"We are very worried about this situation and we are working a lot to make many opportunities for the people, especially a safe country," said Guadalajara Tourism Board Director Luis Felipe Nuno.
There are still a number of visitors who forge ahead despite their fears.
"A lot of my family had a lot of concerns for me coming down here, swine flu, safety in general. You just have to be calm," said one vacation goer.
"Don't carry too much money on you, keep your valuables at the hotel or house you are staying at, just stay alert, maybe not listen to iPods all the time, keep attention to your surroundings," said another vacation goer.
As far as staying healthy before, during, and after your trip, you may need more protection than hand-sanitizer can provide.
"Travel insurance does provide coverage for a number of situations with the H1N1 virus. For example, if you contract it and you can't travel it is a covered reason to get your non refundable expenses back," said Travel Guard Vice President Dan McGinnity.
To counter the drop in Mexican tourism, officials are stepping up their promotions and special offers.
Anyway you slice it, because of its challenges; Mexico will continue to be one of the winter's biggest bargains for tropical travel.
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