In recent international discourse, perhaps one of the most controversial countries on watch around the world is the United Mexican States, better known as Mexico. If world-wide fears stemming from the Swine Flu's origin in a small town near Mexico city last summer wasn't enough, so too are the continuous international media portrayals of Mexico's drug violence along the United States-Mexico border. Best summed up by the Midland Reporter-Telegram: "It's hard to pick up a newspaper these days without reading about drug cartels pulling off murders, decapitations, kidnappings, torture and intimidation harassment" (1). Other common media portrayals including gory news reports of daily shootouts spawned by drug cartels are "fuelling concerns among North Americans and Europeans that Mexico is increasingly unsafe, even if most of the violence is along the US border, far from top tourist areas" (TVNZ 1).

The natural response to such negative media coverage of Mexico's ambiguous safety situation, has negatively affected the tourism sector of this country. Mexico has recently experienced a "tourism meltdown", and it is this precise fear of drug violence that is pushing tourists away from this country (Midland Reporter-Telegram 1). What is even more unfortunate for the Mexican tourism industry is it makes up "eight percent of Mexico's economy" (TVNZ 3). To better exemplify the ways in which Mexican tourism has experienced a depressing decline in reputation are the sites/sights and scenes of Mexico dependent upon international guests. It is important to note that Mexico represents "one of the world's top destinations", with more than 20 million visitors per year! What once used to be a country best known for its wide array of travel experiences filled with cultural attractions, fun nightlife, and ideal beaches for the ever present beach culture, this country has now conjured up images of violence spawned by drug and weapon trafficking into the United States.

Sentiments of danger and trepidation now overshadow many of the charming Mexican sites alive in the Mexican culture. Americans who used to venture into Mexico for the once fun "border night life, cheap tequila and prescription medicines are staying away" (3). A decline in the numbers of international tourists flying into the "Pacific beach resort of Acapulco, where rival hitmen have fought brazen gun battles in recent months, fell by almost a quarter in the first three months of this year" (3). Additionally, according to airport operator Asur, "international arrivals to the popular Caribbean resort of Cancun fell four percent" in recent time (3). These examples represent some of the many tourist areas of Mexico that are struggling to maintain international tourism success. According to Roberto Diaz, an affiliate of Cancun's pleasure boat business, Mexico's bad image abroad means tourists, mostly the Americans, are not coming as much". In other words, Mexicans who base their livelihoods on tourism continue to suffer amongst negative media depictions of Mexico.

Even my own experience growing up on a border town in south Texas has represented a disapproving area of the United States for its proximity to Mexico for the parents of friends at Southwestern University. Both I and my parents have had to alleviate the Mexico related worries of my Southwestern friends from northern parts of Texas. One of my friends in particular, was not allowed to visit the Mexican neighboring town of Matamoros for fear of drug related violence. Another dear friend was hesitant that her parents would allow her to visit me in Mexico City this coming summer. Taking into account my personal stories of the fear many Americans hold about Mexico, I couldn't believe the discourse that affected the question of safety not only in Mexico but within my own home town.

Even amongst the dominant media representations positing negative images of Mexico's unsafe visual culture, there are less dominant opposing views arguing the secure state of Mexico, perfect for tourist conditions. The leaders painting a happier light upon Mexican tourism are many business people. They "blame the news media for exaggerating the extent of drug murders, which are mainly between gang members and corrupt police" (3). They also confirm that "Mexico's beaches, Mayan ruins and colonial-era churches are far from the conflict" (TVNZ 3), which represent the sites with the biggest touristic draws in Mexico. Whether this information holds slight truths or not, the dominant view of Mexico is nowhere near the positive connotations brought forth by many business people.

Because of the prevailing written work and images portraying Mexico's unsafe circumstances, stemming from international media, it is obvious that opposing evidence to this common perception is weak, if not sufficient to reverse the stigma on tourism into Mexico. And what's more, suggests Rick Seaney, chief executive of airline price comparison website FareCompare.com, is that "perception is everything when it comes to leisure travel" (3). He couldn't be more correct in detailing the current negative perceptions held by international tourists about Mexico.

Next

"Mexico's Tourist Trade Seems to Be Suffering Meltdown." MyWestTexas.com. 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 2 May 2010.

"Tourists Scared off Mexico." Breaking & Daily News, Sport & Weather | TV ONE, TV2 | TVNZ. 14 Apr. 2010. Web. 16 Apr. 2010. .

 

 

This Webpage was produced in COM 783: Visual Communication,

a class taught by Bob Bednar in the Communication Studies Department at Southwestern University