Why don’t more foreign tourists come to Central Mexico? MND’s journalism intern explains
Americans tend to make long-haul trips to Europe to eat unique food, explore cobblestone streets and take in thousands of years of history. They can get the same experience with their southern neighbor, so why don’t they come to Central Mexico? Jared Tucker discovered a few reasons. The post Why don’t more foreign tourists come to Central Mexico? MND’s journalism intern explains appeared first on…
Nine weeks ago, the author embarked on a mission to understand why more foreign tourists, particularly Americans, do not visit Central Mexico. American tourists make up the majority of international arrivals into Mexico, but they tend to flock to the coastal cities of Cancún, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, rather than the high-elevation center or other destinations outside of Mexico City. The author lived in Mexico for two months and found several reasons for this phenomenon.
The first reason is the negative public perception of Mexico in the United States. The media consistently portrays Mexico as a dangerous, drug-filled desert that sends millions of illegal immigrants through the northern border. This perception was reinforced when César Gastélum, an influencer, was shot and killed on a live stream in Sinaloa, sparking widespread fear and warnings against visiting Mexico.
Additionally, the U.S. State Department issues level 3 or 4 advisories for 13 of Mexico's 32 states, with only two states having a level 1 warning. These warnings and constant headlines of violence keep the country off countless American bucket lists.
The second reason is the lack of familiarity with Central Mexico among Americans. When most Americans think of international vacations, they envision cities like Rome, London, Madrid or Athens. Destinations in Central Mexico, such as Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende or Oaxaca, rarely cross their minds. While the author met people who had visited San Miguel before, many had never even heard of it.
Furthermore, Central Mexican destinations are often overshadowed by more famous European cities, which receive more attention from American travelers.
Lastly, logistical and language issues also deter American tourists from visiting Central Mexico. English is not as widely spoken in Central Mexico as it is in tourist hotspots like Cabo or Cancún. Airport announcements and signs are exclusively in Spanish, making it difficult for English-speaking travelers to navigate. Asking for directions or ordering at a restaurant can be a challenge, and meeting new people can be difficult due to language barriers.
However, the author found that these obstacles were part of the experience and helped to make the trip more authentic.
Written by urgent.news from Mexico News Daily's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
