CNN/AP: Drug violence, political unrest mar Mexico tourism

[DeepModem Mom]

Drug violence, political unrest mar Mexico tourism
Industry struggling in some areas
Friday, August 4, 2006


Supporters of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador block the entrance to the stock market in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- A human head washes up on an Acapulco beach. Protesters hassle visitors at makeshift checkpoints in the colonial city of Oaxaca. And in Mexico City, leftist demonstrators turn the tourist draws of Reforma Avenue and the Zocalo plaza into sprawling, ragtag protest camps.

Growing political unrest and drug violence are making foreigners think twice about visiting Mexico, where the $11.8 billion tourism industry is the country's third-largest legal source of income, after oil and remittances from migrants in the United States.

Mexico has been struggling since last fall, when Hurricane Wilma hit the country's biggest tourism moneymaker, Cancun.

No tourists have been reported hurt in Mexico City, Oaxaca or Acapulco, but hotels are being hit by cancellations of thousands of reservations.

In Mexico City alone, hotels, restaurants and stores are losing $23 million a day, according to the city's Commerce, Services and Tourism Chamber. Some businesses have threatened to stop paying taxes unless the government cracks down on the demonstrations....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/08/04/mexico.tourism.ap/index.html

[larrysh]

1. Just 30 minutes ago my wife and I

got back from the airport after 5 days in Ajijic, in the state of Jalisco. Despite the protest in Oxaca and Mexico City, we had a wonderful time and found the Mexican people we met to be as courteous
and kind as always. This was our 4th trip to Mexico and our first trip
house-hunting, for a place to retire in the next couple of years.

The Lake Chapala-Ajijic area has bout 8,000 full time American and Canadian retirees and another 40,000 "snowbirds" who own homes there
and come down to stay for the winter. Foolish me, I was hoping to find a house in a price range of $180,000 to $200,000 (American dollars)
which would have a back yard big enough for our two labs. HA HA HA!!!!

Cheapest we found with a decent back yard was $277,000.

Canned goods from the states are expensive at the local market ($3.00
American for a standard size can of Wolf brand chili). Real coffee
is outrageous, but instant is reasonable. Meats from the meat market
and fresh vegetables at the market are much cheaper than here.

For just about everything else, there's a Wal-Mart in Guadalajara,
along with a Sam's, Costco, and Target.

Lots of Democrats among the ex-pats at the Lake Chapala Society.

For everyone preparing to leave the country should the Repubs win in 2008, I couldn't recommend a better place, if you don't need a big backyard for the dogs.....

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Great report, larrysh -- thank you!!! nt