MSNBC - Ahead of Spring Break, U.S. State Department warns of travel to Mexico

From my archive of press clippings:

MSNBC

Ahead of Spring Break, U.S. State Department warns of travel to Mexico

KHQ-TV


WASHINGTON. - The U.S. government says Mexico's bloody drug war is a growing threat to tourists. Now, as college students start planning their spring breaks, the U.S. State Department has a new warning about traveling to Mexico.
This is the image Mexico wants American tourists to see: beautiful beaches, party time!

Read the whole article here.


Snippet(s):


"Recently, this is more the reality: a drug war that is spiraling out of control."


"College students planning for spring break are taking notice."

&

"In a travel advisory issued just last week, the U.S. State Department warns, "large fire fights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped."


Travel agents say most tourist towns like Cancun are still popular."

LAT - Advice for Mexico-bound spring breakers, from U.S. State Department

From my archive of press clippings:

Los Angeles Times


Advice for Mexico-bound spring breakers, from U.S. State Department

Monday, February 23, 2009

Students all over the U.S. are in the midst of dreaming up spring break plans, and if past years are any indication, many thousands will be hitting beaches in Mexico for relaxation and, of course, plenty of recreation.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"On Feb. 20, 2009, the U.S. State Department renewed its travel alert for Mexico, which includes advice that tourists visit “only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours” and avoid “areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur.”

The advisory mentions “the greatest increase in violence” having been near the U.S.-Mexico border. But it does not pinpoint other specific geographic parts to be wary of, nor does it suggest that U.S. travelers avoid Mexico altogether."

DCE - Travel advisory affects area students' plans

DC Examiner

Travel advisory affects area students' plans


By Rachelle Brown

Special to The Examiner 3/5/09

Martin do Nascimento hoped he could volunteer while in Mexico for spring break.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The American University senior is part of a group of AU students who will be in Oaxaca next week for an alternative spring break, a service learning experience in which the students will study economic development in Mexico. They were also supposed to do a service project at the Mexico City garbage dump."

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"To increase safety and calm anxious parents, additional safety measures have been added for the trip to southern Mexico. Now students will have a nightly curfew, avoid public transportation and not travel on the bus overnight. Those changes meant adjusting the trip’s itinerary, and volunteering at the dump is off the schedule."