Tourism is a vital source of income for nations worldwide.Since Americans love to escape in Mexico, the NAFTA partner on siesta enjoys the economic boon without having to give up any of its own jobs to el Norte.The traditional kind of Mexico vacation typically involves margaritas, beaches and lobster.According to Reuters, there’s a new breed of tourist in Mexico that gives the phrase “tourist trap” an entirely different meaning.”Danger tourism” that takes thrill-seekers into the maelstrom of sex, drugs and open violence of the current drug war is all the rage.
Threat travel and leisure isn’t for the average person
Most people would not spend getaway cash placing themselves within the middle of a war zone, but some individuals are happy to utilize the services of the more “underground” travel agencies on the market.By taking advantage of fringe travel agencies, tourists can run with Zapatista rebels. They can also witness the carnage of the drug war up close.The Tepito black market on the back streets of Mexico City wait.Cesar Estrada, proprietor of Universal Travel, indicated to Reuters that despite the very real chance that tourists can be robbed at gunpoint, such risk travel and leisure is quite popular.
”We tell visitors to dress simply. If they want pictures, our guides take them discreetly,” Estrada told Reuters.
The ‘real’ Mexico is waiting for you
A German tourist by the name of Donata Von Salviati told Reuters that the experience of danger tourism gives outsiders “the kind of insight to the real Mexico one could not get in a beach resort like Cancún”.Adding to the theme of “the real Mexico,” one tourist agency enables danger tourism aficionados to pay 200 pesos ($15) to hire a fake human trafficker (aka polleros or coyotes) for a nighttime run that simulates being a migrant crossing the southern border of the United States.No food or water is permitted, as the tourist transforms into human traffic.Make a run for the border with all of speed, for many who lag behind are picked up by fake immigration trucks in violent fashion.
A fiscal boost for Mexico?
According to Reuters, the economic returns of risk travel and leisure aren’t totally clear in these early stages.Tourism in general accounts for 9 percent of the nation’s economy, and considering just how much damage the drug wars have done to Mexico of late, it appears likely that hazard tourism helps more than it hurts.Unless you are a tourist on the wrong end of a bullet, of course.
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Reuters
reuters.com/article/idUSN2463303
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