Mexico
with other ongoing violence in Mexico prompted the
all Americans planning to travel to Mexico.
What gets lost in the alert, however, is the fact that only U.S. bordering towns, mainly
been the scenes of the crime. But the Riviera Maya,
crime scenes, are being found guilty by association in clients' eyes and Chomat can’t take it anymore.
In a one-on-one phone interview, Chomat told us that operators and agents, now, more than ever, need
to stress to their clients that not all of Mexico is unsafe. Despite attacks near the U.S border, other
territories like the Riviera Maya have remained just as safe as they've always been. Although repeat
customers will continue to flock to Karisma’s Riviera Maya properties, Chomat is concerned that the
exaggerated news may turn off honeymooners and other first-time visitors.
“It’s frustrating because what is going on in
the Riviera Maya or other parts of Mexico that are no where near where the violence is occurring,”
Chomat told us. “We’ve even gone as far as to show operators and agents maps to point out how far away
our destination is from the border towns.”
Chomat isn’t alone in his frustration. He said he recently met with hoteliers from Los Cabos and other
regions in Mexico that were being unfairly linked to the violence. “People see a warning to Mexico and
think its all of Mexico,” Chomat says. “I don't think they realize how big of a country it really is. We really
need agents and operators to stress this fact to them.”
Chomat recently visited the Riviera Maya and vouches for the territory's safety. “It is not a border town,
there are no drug routes here, this is a tourist destination,” he argues. “There is tight security at all of
our hotels and about 95 percent of our clients use private transfers from the airport.
“I don’t know how long it is going to take for everything in Mexico to return to normal, it could take some
time,” he continued. “But the belief that the Rivera Maya is unsafe is something that needs to be taken
care of right now. We need all the help we can get to spread the word that we are in no way tied to any
of the violence that occurred in the border towns. The highest levels of the Mexico government really
need to straighten this mess out.”
Travel Warnings & Alerts
