Tourism is a vital source of income for nations worldwide.For Americans, Mexico has proven to be a popular tourist attraction.The traditional kind of Mexico vacation typically involves margaritas, beaches and lobster.But a new form of Mexican vacation is anything but common, reports Reuters.For individuals who are willing to trade in their tropical resorts and fruity drinks for sex, drugs and guns within the fields of the nation’s raging drug war, there is now “danger tourism”.
Danger tourism isn’t intended for an average Joe
Most individuals would not spend escape cash placing themselves in the middle of a war zone, but some individuals are happy to utilize the services of the more “underground” travel agencies on the market.Such agencies give the morbidly curious the chance to see Zapatista rebels up close.The Tepito underground 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 will be robbed at gunpoint, such danger tourist is quite popular.
”We tell visitors to dress simply. If they want pictures, our guides take them discreetly,” Estrada told Reuters.
See the ‘real’ Mexico today!
A German tourist by the name of Donata Von Salviati told Reuters the experience of danger tourist gives outsiders “the kind of insight into the real Mexico one could not get in a beach resort like Cancún”.All it takes is 200 pesos ($ 15) to hire a guide to run a tourist through the exact very same experience as illegal migrants, complete with nighttime flight over dusty roads, sagebrush, bear traps, rivers and more.Food, water and other creature comforts aren’t allowed.Make a run for the border with all speed, for many who lag behind are picked up by fake immigration trucks in violent fashion.
Is a Mexico economic climate milking this as far as they can?
Reuters reports that it is unclear at this point exactly what kind of an effect risk travel and leisure has had on the Mexican economy.When one considers that nine percent of Mexico’s overall economy depends upon tourism dollars, risk travel and leisure couldn’t be anything other than a shot in the arm, despite the ravages of the drug war.Unless you’re a tourist on the wrong end of a bullet, of course.
Additional reading
Reuters
reuters.com/article/idUSN2463303
