News from the Puerto Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV). 4/24/12. The Arizona Republic has recently printed a number of pieces reexamining Puerto Peñasco (aka Rocky Point) as a safe spot for tourism, despite travel warnings that have been issued to other parts of Mexico. These warnings, along with other factors including the requirement for US passports for returning home, economic concerns, and even last year’s swine flu, have all taken their toll on tourism and yet Puerto Peñasco is bouncing back. This year, there was a 22% uptick in Spring Break visitors and the busy Semana Santa (Holy Week) drew in approximately 61,000 visitors to area hotels alone! Weekends in town have been chock full of activities since the beginning of the year, and will continue to be packed through at least early summer with concerts, recreation, fishing, and events!
In early April, Hector Vazquez del Mercado, President of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) was quoted in an Arizona Republic note assuring that “the people are seeing us as a safe destination,” highlighting Puerto Peñasco rebound on the safe tourism monitor! Similarly, in a short note entitled “Travel to Rocky Point’s Paradise is Still Safe,” we are reminded of how incidences that occur in different parts of Mexico often lead to a broad paintbrush stroke of the whole country. However, as an expert in border crime at the University of San Diego is reported stating, with violence in Mexico principally focused on the illegal drug trade, “you’re talking about very low odds of being victimized by this kind of violence.” Puerto Peñasco enjoys a close relationship with the metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson, and is often dubbed “Arizona’s beach.” Considerations to keep in mind when traveling to this near seaside spot, as the article points out, are “Travel in daylight, don’t be an imbecile. Have fun.” Welcome back!!
Gonzalez, D. (April 5, 2012). Travel warnings cite violence in Sonora; data shows it’s safe. The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/04/05/20120405sonora-mexico-travel-warnings-violence-data-show-safe.html#ixzz1rGgdYY8n