New York, New York – In a time when most tourism destinations hesitate to speak about public safety out of concern it may frighten potential visitors, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has continuously hired leading international security assessment firms to review its security.

Studies completed in 2011 and 2012 by Thomas Dale & Associates, and this year’s study, conducted by the world's leader in tourism security, Tourism & More, presents findings that showcase how Puerto Vallarta continues to provide a safe and friendly, small town feeling for visitors and locals alike.

The study was conducted in July of 2014 by Dr. Peter E. Tarlow and teammates Sergeant Calder Lively and Officer Ryan Clements, both of the College Station Texas Police Department. The Tourism & More team set out to assess the current tourism security situation in Puerto Vallarta and answer one fundamental question: Is Puerto Vallarta a safe and secure city for tourists?

The assessment of Vallarta's security was conducted using a combination of personal interaction, interviews, and the team's extensive experience. They conducted formal and informal interviews with members of the destination's different police departments, including tourism police (policía de seguridad turística), municipal police (policía municipal), transit police (policía vial) and the federal police (policía federal.)

They spoke with members of the local media and tourism industry, including tour and hotel operators; representatives from Puerto Vallarta's cruise terminal and piers; airport executives; destination management companies; local business owners and time-share sales reps. Representative from the US Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexican naval officials, and national and international visitors were also among those interviewed.

In general, the researchers found that Puerto Vallarta provide its visitors, locals and expat populations a safe setting where people feel comfortable walking around town without perceived fear. Puerto Vallarta is a place where storefronts show their merchandise without need for much security, and where some still feel comfortable with leaving their doors unlocked.

The study, however notes that "if one is looking for trouble, it can be found, but if one stays away from locations such as these, then they should not impact a visitor's experience." It also noted that Puerto Vallarta tends to lack international signage and taxi prices, and its tourism police require training and basic knowledge of English.

As a result of the assessment, Tourism and More provided the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board with different options to develop tourism training, promote its safety standards, as well as provide an analysis of the city's emergency planning and crisis management plan as it relates to its tourism infrastructure and solutions for improving signage.

The following is an edited version Tourism & More's Security assessment of Puerto Vallarta's touristic zones:

Zona Central/Malecón

This area offers some of the city's best shopping as well as the Malecón, a seaside promenade that serves as an entertainment, shopping, and dining district. The researchers visited the site numerous times, at different hours during the day and night. During these visits they noted:

• There were a large number of families along the Malecón. Visitors walked the length of the Malecón without fear and were not hassled by street people.

• There were large numbers of teenage groups that kept to themselves. The researchers did not note any interaction between these teenage groups and drug dealers or strip club promoters.

• The researchers learned that eight tourism-policing officers were on duty on this particular Sunday night. Among these officers, two were fluent in English, and two had basic English communication skills.

Zona Marina/Zona Hotelera

The zone consists of a tourism-oriented marina with numerous restaurants and shops, a large empty shell of an uncompleted commercial center, a golf course and upscale residential homes.

• The tourism police patrol the marina on a twenty-four hour basis. The research team interviewed five of these officers and found that none of them spoke English.

• On the positive side, the Marina is safe and secure. The researchers observed single women going to work before sunrise without any concerns, people drove their cars with the windows opened and store owners and security guards reported that the area is safe. They did note however that there have been incidents of theft (jewelry, wrist watches), and that as in any large city, precaution is always advisable.

• The cruise terminal is not only spotless but, within the terminal itself, security appears to be excellent. Terminal personnel are well trained and top of the line security cameras are used to monitor the area twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. To further enhance security manpower, the terminal stands in close proximity to a naval base. Not far from the cruise terminal are major shopping centers; locals reported to the research team that many cruise passengers and crew personnel take advantage of these shopping centers while they are on shore.

Zona Romántica

This major tourism zone on the Puerto Vallarta's South side is more laid-back, and is home to the city's most popular public beach, a pier, numerous shops and restaurants, and a hippy and gay community. Known as the 'Romantic Zone,' this area tends to be more active at night than the Malecón. In fact, the zone is filled with tourists both during the day and at night. During the research team's multiple visits, they found the following:

• During the day, they interviewed one of the tourism police officers. She spoke English and was highly knowledgeable about the area. She was able to give recommendations regarding places to dine and visit.

• The Romantic Zone is home to Puerto Vallarta's largest beach that is popular with both visitors and locals. Although it was reported to the researchers that the beach has lifeguards, none were seen. The researchers did see Mexican naval personnel who were guarding the beach in a full uniform. On the positive side the crowds were well behaved, and the signage explaining the ocean conditions was excellent and written in both English and Spanish.

• The Zona Romantic also offers a variety of late night experiences. Many of these locations are a place to relax, meet people, and enjoy a party atmosphere.

About Tourism & More:

The world’s leader in tourism security, economic development through tourism, and customer services, Tourism and More provides consulting, training, and certification to law enforcement, security, and travel and tourism professionals. Tourism & More President and Founder, Dr. Peter E. Tarlow, is a world-renowned speaker and expert specializing in the impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event and tourism risk management, and economic development. In 1999, the US Customs service asked Tarlow to work with its agents in the area of customer service, cultural awareness, and custom's impact on the tourism and visitor industry. In 2000, due to inter-agency cooperation on the part of the Bureau of Reclamation, Tarlow helped to prepare security and FBI agents for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Tarlow is currently working with police departments in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games and bringing out a security training program in Curaçao. Learn more at tourismandmore.com.