North America

Mexico: Tourist-Zone Crime Adds to Image Problem

Date: February 20th, 2013 |

Another barrage of negative headlines has thrust Mexico into the international spotlight, but this time its tourist zones are directly involved, increasing safety concerns and worrying those who rely on tourism jobs and revenue. Recent media coverage of a daytime murder in Mexico City’s busy Zona Rosa, along with the case of six Spanish tourists [read more]

Mexico: 100 People Injured in Inaugaration Protests

Date: December 5th, 2012 |

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At least 100 people were injured when violent protests broke out at the Dec. 1 inauguration of President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City. Groups of masked men attacked security forces, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails, and vandalizing several local businesses. Traffic in the already congested capital remained gridlocked for hours as riot police used [read more]

Mexico: Tour Offers Simulated Illegal Border Crossing to U.S.

Date: September 12th, 2012 |

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For about $18, tourists can experience a simulated illegal border crossing, complete with strenuous night-hiking through wild desert terrain and verbal abuse from fake “coyotes” or guides. While some may question its tastefulness, operators of “La Caminata” (the hike) and residents of El Alberto, the small town where it takes place about 60 miles from [read more]

Mexico: Archeologists Protest Construction, Tourist Events at Ruins

Date: August 28th, 2012 |

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Outraged archeologists have occupied the National Museum of Archeology in Puebla to protest the government’s careless treatment of historic sites. In a growing cultural tug-of-war, historians and activists have become increasingly protective of Mexico’s pre-Columbian riches and colonial ruins, while the government sponsors everything from rock concerts at Aztec pyramids to mindless construction in and [read more]

Canada: Tourists Spotted Baiting Bears with Raw Meat

Date: August 7th, 2012 |

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Alarmed witnesses spotted a group of foreign tourists throwing meat from a tour van in Banff National Park, in a dangerous attempt to entice some grizzly bears closer to the vehicle. Park authorities tracked down the owner of the commercial van, but not the tourists, who had already left the country and may not have [read more]

Mexico: President Rolls Out Plans to Restore Passenger Trains

Date: February 6th, 2013 |

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As early as 2014, travelers could be rolling across the Yucatan Peninsula by train, bypassing traffic-clogged, hazardous highways in air-conditioned comfort. As part of his Dec. 1 inaugural address, President Peña Nieto announced an ambitious, multibillion-dollar plan to rejuvenate and modernize the country’s rail system, including new passenger lines that would cater to tourists, and [read more]

Mexico: Acapulco Cracking Down on Police Corruption

Date: November 7th, 2012 |

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The mayor of Acapulco has announced that 500 of the resort city’s police officers—more than 20 percent of its existing force—will be fired for corruption. A mass layoff is scheduled to take effect in January, and the mayor has requested that the federal government step in to help secure the city of 800,000 people. Acapulco’s [read more]

Canada: Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak in Quebec

Date: September 4th, 2012 |

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An outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease, a bacterial lung infection, has killed nine people in Quebec and infected at least 150 more since mid-July. A type of pneumonia contracted by drinking contaminated water or inhaling its vapor, Legionnaire’s disease is treatable with antibiotics, though it can be fatal. Officials have yet to identify the exact source [read more]

Mexico: All Airport Police Replaced After Drug Shootout

Date: August 21st, 2012 |

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To reassure the public and avoid further scandal, Mexico City has replaced all 348 airport police after a deadly shootout occurred inside Benito Juarez airport June 25. The incident involved three officers suspected of drug trafficking who opened fire on their colleagues and were then shot dead inside a busy terminal, shocking travelers who have [read more]

Mexico: Raw Sewage Contaminates Popular Beaches

Date: August 7th, 2012 |

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At the peak of summer vacation season, a number of popular beaches in Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, Veracruz and other tourist areas are registering high levels of bacterial contamination. Environmental reports that measure levels of enterococci (E. coli)—harmful bacteria that cause gastrointestinal and respiratory infections—are showing extremely poor water quality in 22 of 29 tourist [read more]

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