Should the Canadian government issue a travel advisory for Mexico?

Question

The death this week of a Toronto-area teen visiting Mexico has renewed critics' appeals that Canadian officials flag the country as unsafe for travellers. The Thunder Bay women suspected in the Ianiero murder case have set up an online petition requesting the government to issue a tavel warning for Mexico until the safety of Canadian tourists can be assured.

Read more: http://ca.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-NwuWaPQoeKdM_fkq7QX_VJZjjCc-?cq=1

Answer 1

Yes the Canadian government should issue a travel advisory for Mexico. There are questions about all three deaths that have never been answered by the Mexican police. In fact it looks like there have been coverups and misrepresentations in all three.

Answer 2

What travellers need to realize is that when they travel to a foreign country, such as Mexico, they need to act appropriately - read: differently. For example, going clubbing alone, or with one other friend, is probably not a good idea; neither is walking the streets at night. Foreign countries are not like Canada and they have different rules that should be followed. People are killed everyday all over the world. In fact, people have been stabbed and shot outside of night clubs where I live, right here in Vancouver. I would presume that more people are killed in the United States everyday than Mexico so why would we issue a travel advisory about Mexico? What happened was a terrible tragedy, but it doesn't mean that Canadians should stop travelling to Mexico. I wish this whole world wasn't brainwashed on a daily basis with fearmongering, it's truly sad.

Answer 3

I intend on travelling to Mexico at the end of February. I don't think that it's any different from any other place. Every place has violence. Every place has murder. Every place has crooked police officers. That's just the way it is. If people are unaware of the risks involved with travelling to a foreign country where the native language differs from their own, perhaps they should consider travelling to a place a bit less different from their own culture and way of life.

I really do feel bad for the man who was killed in Mexico. It is an awful thing, and there is really no need for it. However, murders occur everywhere. Whether it be civil wars, gang related murders, theft, or plain old hate...it happens everywhere. No government can ensure the safety of the people who travel to that country. How can they control it? They would have to hunt down every single person with a criminal record. It'll never happen. I think it might be a good idea to issue a travel advisory, but under the circumstances..I don't think it's necessary. People should already be aware of the risks that they're taking when travelling to a foreign country.

There are many things that tourists should be aware of. For instance, you are NOT in your country. So...the rules and regulations of the country that you travelling to should be respected. It's never a good idea to travel alone, either. It's always a good idea to have a group of people with you. That way, you're less likely to come by unfortunate circumstances.

In addition (and not that I'm insinuating anything), I think that, when travelling to a foreign country, it's always a good idea to treat people with respect and common courtesy. I heard somewhere that the Toronto-area teen was in a club...inebriated and dancing with a local's girlfriend. It certainly wasn't the teen's fault. He might not have been aware that he was dancing with someone's girlfriend. However...it's always a good idea to keep your eyes open. Intoxication doesn't exactly help. But...this is just what I heard. Hearsay, really. In any case, it's still something to be aware of.

Just because someone is murdered in a country, it doesn't mean that people should stop travelling there. It means that people should be more cautious. It's always a good idea to be cautious, anyway. It also doesn't hurt to do a bit of research into the background of the place you're travelling to. Is it a poor country? Is there a lot of civil wars taking place? Has this country had travel advisories issued in the past?

In closing...I think it IS a good idea to issue a travel advisory to make people aware of the situation. However...it is NOT a good idea to issue a travel advisory until the safety of Canadian tourists can be assured. Safety cannot be guaranteed or assured. It is not possible to do so. People just need to be aware of the risks involved.

Answer 4

I am really not so sure if that is necessary. My family and I just travelled to Mexico in November, and actually stayed at the same resort in The Mayan Rivera where the first two murders were committed.
I have to say that we felt completely safe, and I do agree that this was a horrific crime and a devastating loss for the families, and a horrible experience for the women from Ontario who were implicated. However as another poster indicated there have already been a number of crimes in Toronto alone since the beginning of the year, that doesn't mean I won't go into the City.
Everyone needs to exercise caution no matter what country you are in. With that said I still do believe the Mexican police are covering something up, or have possibly been paid off to keep quite. The American dollar goes a long way there. It doesn't' mean I won't go back travel warning or not. I love the country have been there 12 times, and will continue to vacation there with the family.

Answer 5

I have travelled to Mexico on 4 separate occasions. I am familiar with the countries dependence on the tourism industry for survival. I my view this is a third world country which is covering up the murder of a mother and father who visited Mexico to attend there daughters wedding. If you take the time to get the fact surrounding the case and including the reaction of the Mexican police and government including president Vincente Fox, it is quite clear that Mexico is in damage control mode. Now another 19 young man and fellow Canadian has been allegedly hit by a car and killed, which for some reason seems to be funny to the bouncer of the club where he was last seen. The room which the young man was staying at was robbed that same night.
Coincidence? I could go on... The point is why would you want to go to a country where 3 Canadians have been murdered or killed
in the last 10 months? I am appalled that my government has done little or nothing to seek justice in the Iannero case. In contrast the U.S. media and government demanded answers when a teenage girl went missing in Aruba. It was all over the news and the U.S. government and media did not and has not backed down. In contrast our government issued a travel advisory which has since been lifted. I guess all in there eyes they did enough. Now another 19 year old young man is dead.
Stay away from Mexico if not to make a statement at least for your safety.

Answer 6

Yes, I do think the Canadian government should issue an advisory. With 3 suspicious deaths now from there, it's obvious the Mexican government will go to any lengths to cover up these crimes. What I don't understand is.. why? If this young man who recently was killed by someone or if he was in fact hit by a car, why cover it up? Maybe the Mexican government is afraid of bad publicity for tourism reasons, not sure. I just think issuing an advisory to travellers is a good idea, as not everyone is aware of the dirty policing and government that is there IF anything shall happen while vacationing there.

Answer 7

Just because someone is murdered in a country, it doesn't mean that people should stop travelling there. It means that people should be more cautious. It's always a good idea to be cautious, anyway. It also doesn't hurt to do a bit of research into the background of the place you're travelling to. Is it a poor country? Is there a lot of civil wars taking place? Has this country had travel advisories issued in the past?

In closing...I think it IS a good idea to issue a travel advisory to make people aware of the situation. However...it is NOT a good idea to issue a travel advisory until the safety of Canadian tourists can be assured. Safety cannot be guaranteed or assured. It is not p

Answer 8

I really do feel bad for the man who was killed in Mexico. It is an awful thing, and there is really no need for it. However, murders occur everywhere. Whether it be civil wars, gang related murders, theft, or plain old hate...it happens everywhere. No government can ensure the safety of the people who travel to that country. How can they control it? They would have to hunt down every single person with a criminal record. It'll never happen. I think it might be a good idea to issue a travel advisory, but under the circumstances..I don't think it's necessary. People should already be aware of the risks that they're taking when travelling to a foreign country.

Answer 9

No, Mexico is a great place for Canadians to travel. I went to Mexico the week after the Ianiero murders to the very same resort the incident happened and you've never felt safer and I will be going back to the very same resort this year. Everyone knew that we were Canadians right off the bat, infact they wanted to know what happened no one down there knew what happened, it was just a small blurb in the newspaper. Everyone was super friendly and helpful, I couldn't believe how nice everyone was. I think this is just a case of tourists being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You need to ask yourself also - What was the teen doing in another country unsupervised? This is just as much the parents fault as it is the people who hit him. Incidents like this also happen to tourists in Canada but are never made public - should Canada be put on a travel advisory too? C'mon people think about it!

Answer 10

I do not think the government should prevent people from travelling abroad, even in Mexico. As a tourist, we have several rules to follow, just like at home! Enjoying your holidays, should not mean risking your life...
Just like some other people mentionned, we have more deaths of canadian citizens here in Canada than in Mexico...
I totally agree in the fact that the police in Mexico is corrupted and unfortunately it will be hard for the famillies to know the truth... I feel really sorry about the tragedy...
I think that the travel agencies should always warn people about the cultural difference between canada and the country you are going to visit.
I am going to visit Mexico in 2 months and even if I have heard these stories, I won't cancel anything.
Everything can happen, in the 3rd world countries as well as in the rich countries!
Enjoy the pleasure of travelling and discovering all these treasures.... with all the due respect!

Answer 11

Let's start from the simple questions: how many shootings have been in the entertainment area in Toronto downtown recently? how many people have died in those shootings? How do we know if the Ianiero case isn't related with drugs? why just when a Canadian or a USA citizen dies abroad, does the news pop up on every channel internationally? if you've been in places like Cancun, Puerto Vllarta or Acapulco, how do Canadian and American tourists betwen the age of 18 and 26 behave (has anyone seen that show Wild on, spring break )? so with all these examples, including the shooting that occurred in Toronto on boxing day (where a 16 year old died) in 2005, and the one that just happend the day after Boxing day 2006 before 8 pm. Also the American college star Hockey player who was killed by being hit by a brick on the head outside of a bar in Jane and Bloor. So i guess we should issue a safety warning for Toronto shouldn't we? i mean if you go wherever in the world there is crime and everybody should take precautions. And last but not least, just recently an Ontario resident wast shot on the head in a USA city.