US State Department lowers travel advisories for Mexico
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The US State Department has announced it is lowering the travel advisory for Mexico. Mexico was on the State Department’s Tier 4 “Do Not Travel” list until yesterday when it was downgraded to level 3 “Reconsider the trip”. JThe change comes as Americans prepare for spring break, which begins as early as this weekend for some.
Mexico is one of the main tourist destinations for spring break. Students flock to the warm waters and beautiful beaches of Mexico all spring long. The resort’s pools are often home to hundreds and thousands of youngsters sipping margaritas in the sun. There are wild parties at every station. Mexico is particularly attractive because going out and buying alcohol is, in general, much more affordable than in American cities. Not to mention that the legal drinking age is only 18.
Mexico has indeed suffered from a case of over-tourism in recent months. Probably due to relaxed covid restrictions and favorable climate for northerners. This has caused a bit of a problem for some of the country’s most popular airports. Some travelers have reported waiting up to 2 hours for check-in. It’s not hard to see why being one of the only countries completely open during the pandemic has made it one of the most visited countries on Earth.
Not only a popular weekend destination, but Mexico has also become a hotspot for digital nomads due to its high-speed internet, year-round tropical weather, and cheap prices.
The United States Embassy in Mexico said “Each year, thousands of American citizens visit Mexico during spring break. Although the vast majority travel safely, visitors should consider the following factors”
Some things to avoid in Mexico
criminality: Crimes, including violent crimes, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including popular tourist destinations.
Medications: Possession and use of drugs, including medical marijuana, is illegal in Mexico and can result in a long prison sentence. US citizens have become seriously ill or died in Mexico after using synthetic drugs or counterfeit prescription pills.
Unregulated alcohol: US citizens reported fainting or injuring themselves after consuming alcohol that may not have been regulated. There have been a series of deaths in the Dominican Republic related to this as well.
sexual assault: US citizens have been victims of rape and sexual assault in some resort areas.
Drowning: Some beaches have strong undercurrents and rip tides. Beaches may lack lifeguards, warnings, or signs of dangerous conditions.
COVID-19 in Mexico
The State Department also noted that the CDC has issued a level 3 travel health advisory for Mexico due to COVID-19, indicating an elevated level of COVID-19 in the country. There are no entry restrictions for Mexico and the country has been very relaxed throughout the pandemic. They had a pretty big Omicron spike in January and February, but luckily the number of cases is dropping fast!
Will the new level of advice impact travel to Mexico?
It’s hard to say. Honestly, from where I’m sitting, it doesn’t look like the level 4 travel advisory was stopping many people from going on a beach vacation. But maybe there are still resisters waiting for the COVID cases to drop before they disappear.