The verdict for Puerto Vallarta: one of the safest tourist destinations for both national and international tourists.
In the wake of widely reported violence in various areas of Mexico, tourism officials here took the unusual step of hiring an international security company to assess its safety.
“The study found that the number of negative events involving foreigners or non-foreigners is fractional compared to the large ex-pat resident population and the millions of visitors that come to vacation each year in Puerto Vallarta,” said a press release from the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board.
It added:
“Overall the study found that visitors to the destination feel safe and continue to visit Puerto Vallarta numerous times through their lifetime and that the destination’s support services are well above the average standards and dedicated to serving the visiting public. In relations to the drug wars, TDA found that the limited land transit makes the smuggling of guns and drugs through Puerto Vallarta very difficult and thus a non-issue in the destination.”
Tourist officials hired Thomas Dale & Associates, which they call a “leading global investigative and security firm.” They interviewed both local residents and tourists, and analyzed data from police and other officials.
“The interviews focused on the following three areas; safety in Puerto Vallarta and the perception of its visitors; personal experiences and the US Travel Warning on Mexico,” said the tourist board.
By David Wilkening
