Is it safe to travel to Cancun? Advice after shooting someone dead

One person was killed and six others injured on Friday in a shooting on a main avenue in the Mexican resort of Cancun, authorities said.

According to prosecutors in the coastal state of Quintana Roo, a suspect has been arrested in connection with the attack in the Caribbean coastal city, which did not take place in the hotel complex of the resort.

The shooting happened on an avenue lined with restaurants and bars inland.

The shooting is the latest instance of violence that has damaged Cancun’s reputation as a laid-back vacation destination.

Mexico is a popular holiday destination, with more than 500,000 British citizens visiting the country every year.

However, gang-related violence in much of the country has affected the popular Cancun area in recent months.

In March, tourists were jostled by loud explosions heard at the international airport in Cancun.

Flights were suspended for nearly three hours after authorities received reports of shootings at the airport. Video posted on social media shows tourists rushing out of a station.

The National Guard said there was no evidence of any gunshots being fired, and said explosions were possible after someone pushed the fork of the vertical display stand in the station. .

Also in March, authorities found four bodies dumped in the bushes in Cancun and said they were part of a total of 13 murders committed by the Jalisco gang in the resort since September. .

Most of the bodies were found in vacant lots or houses.

The Caribbean coast, Mexico’s top tourist earner, has been plagued by rampant violence.

In January, prosecutors said the killings of two Canadians near Cancun were motivated by debts between international gangs that appear to specialize in drug and weapons trafficking.

In late October, further south in Tulum, two tourists – one Californian travel blogger born in India and the other German – were caught in the crossfire of apparent drug traffickers against them. shot and was killed.

The UK Government advice on the Foreign Office website for Britons considering traveling to Mexico, and in particular Cancun, states: “The Mexican government works to protect key tourist attractions such as Cancun. , Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta.

“However, since the beginning of 2021, there have been a number of clashes between rival criminal gangs in popular tourist attractions in Cancun and surrounding areas. Two foreign tourists have been killed in Tulum, more tourists have been injured in a shooting in Puerto Morelos, and most recently a shooting at a hotel in Playa del Carmen in tourist attractions travel.

“Currently, the police have increased their presence in the Cancun area, including the hotel area. While tourists were not the target, anyone near the incident could be affected.

“If you are visiting any of these areas, you should heed local advice, stay vigilant and follow the advice of your local government and tour operator.”