Travel warning issued to popular tourist spot ahead of spring break
The United States has issued a warning about a popular tourist destination in Mexico ahead of spring break.
On Jan. 27, the US Embassy in Mexico City cautioned against travel to the?Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso and San Fernando towns in the Tamaulipas region, which borders Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.
The threat level in the region has been upgraded to Level 4, the highest of the US State Department’s four-tier safety ranking system, which warns to “not travel due to crime and kidnapping.”
However, the travel advisory level for Mexico as a whole has remained at Level 2 (“Exercise increased caution”) for several years — the same level as France, Germany and other popular American tourist destinations.
The recent alert was issued due to “increasingly frequent gun battles” in the areas in the late night and early morning hours, as well as the rising implementation of improvised explosive devices by criminal organizations.
This comes after an IED destroyed an official Mexican vehicle in Rio Bravo on Jan. 23.
US government employees specifically have been instructed to travel in and around Reynosa and Rio Bravo only in the daytime. They’ve also been told to avoid dirt roads throughout Tamaulipas.
People should be aware of their surroundings, monitor local media for updates and notify friends and family of their safety.
Despite security concerns in several areas, international tourism to Mexico increased last year, according to data from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico News Daily reported.
The Tamaulipas region is known for its natural attractions including beautiful beaches and eco-activities like prime birdwatching.
The security warning comes as tensions between the US and Mexico continue to escalate amid tariff threats.