Is Cozumel Safe?

Feb. 8, 2012, from the US State Department

"Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism and business, including more than 
150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens 
and other visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality. Resort area and tourist destinations in Mexico 
generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes. "

"For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below."

 "Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum are the major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo.  No advisory is in effect"

July 1, 2011. An American living on Cozumel for 11 years

I believe Cozumel is the safest place I have ever lived. I lived in the U.S. in both large cities and small towns until retiring in 2000. After 24 years of vacationing on Cozumel, I realized this was as close to paradise as I had ever experienced. I always felt comfortable and safe here and I still do after living here 11 years.

But what about the drug wars? The news media is reporting the drug wars taking place on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. They are real and they are terrifying. I would never consider traveling anywhere near the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Although the violence is generally between rival gangs and attacks on the police, I would still never risk being near that.

But Mexico is a large country, and Cozumel is a small island about 1,000 miles from the U.S. border and the drug wars. It's about as far away as you can get from the U.S. and still be in Mexico. The island is 28 miles long and 10 miles wide with only one city. You can only get to Cozumel via air, (a busy international airport) on a cruise ship or by taking one of the regular ferrys that travels 12 miles across the Yucatan channel from the Mexican mainland to Cozumel.

But I'm not the only one who feels that Cozumel is a safe destination. Here are what others are saying.

Now's not the time to visit our southerly neighbor, right? Well, wron

Mexico tourism is having a bit of a PR problem lately.

We tend to lump all of Mexico -- a country the size of Western Europe -- together. For example, a border incident resulted in the death of a Colorado tourist last year, and the Texas Department of Homeland Security recommended against travel to all of Mexico.

Yet it's in the 17 of 31 states not named in the newly expanded warnings where you'll find the most rewarding destinations: the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California beach resorts, colonial hill towns like the ex-pat haven of San Miguel de Allende, even the capital Mexico City.

An hour inland from Cancun's beaches, Yucatan state -- home to the most popular Mayan sites and "real Mexican" colonial cities such as Merida and Valladolid -- is among the country's safest. The state, with roughly the same population as Kansas, saw two drug-related deaths in 2010. Wichita, Kansas, alone had six gang-related killings over the same period.

In most of central and southern Mexico, drug violence simply isn't on the radar of daily life. "It's as easy-going as it's always been," said Deborah Felixson, a diving operator on Cozumel who is "shocked" when people say they had been scared to go to the Caribbean island. "We're just small communities here. We all know what everyone's up to."

American and Mexican tourist and travel industry groups have asked the Texas Department of Public Safety to narrow its travel advisories about Mexico, saying the state's current warning is too broad and is hurting business.  

The groups met with the Texas Secretary of State's office and DPS last week on behalf of companies and tourist agencies suffering from declining American travel to Mexico.

They say that less than 5 percent of Mexico is affected by cartel and drug violence and future DPS travel warnings should clarify which areas of Mexico pose the most threat to tourists.

Out of roughly 2,500 municipalities, only 80 are currently recording problems with drug violence," said Shannon Stowell, president of the Adventure Travel Trade Association.  "It's a very acute problem versus a ubiquitous problem."

Specifically, the organizations say that popular resort cities, such as Cancun, Los Cabos and Cozumel are not dangerous for Americans.

If you look at federal travel warnings, they are very editorial free, just reportage on the facts. But the one that came out of Texas had what I would call an inflammatory message.  It was an unfair blanket statement," Stowell said.  "It's a damage to our membership.  Stowell said.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/travel/news/7610938.html