Students may travel less to Mexico

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Each year an estimated 100,000 American college students head to Mexico for spring break. In 2009, that number is expected to be down.

The U.S. government issued a travel warning for Americans going to Mexico. The DEA Intelligence Chief likens the drug violence in Mexico to 1980s Colombia. Police said 6,000 people were murdered last year.

In cities just recently, the police chief in Cancun eluded authorities while he is investigated for killing a retired army general.

The Juarez police chief quit after drug gangs started killing police officers and organized crime syndicates thumbed their noses at reinforced security measures killing 20 people in one night.

Gunmen opened fire on the Chihuahua Governor's convoy, killing a bodyguard.

In Tijuana, the power struggle between drug lords surges violence and hundreds of bodies are found dissolving in a corrosive material. All the violence is now steering travelers away from what has historically been a major getaway spot.

"We kind of wanted to do a beach trip this year but a lot of our parents didn't think it was safe," said Shannon Murray, a UT student. Murray was looking forward to heading south with friends this spring break.

"They just thought it would be better to do something here in America not crossing borders this year," said Murray.

So, instead, Murray is off to Sin City.

"I'm actually going to Vegas this year for spring break there's a huge group of my friends going," said Murray.

Austin travel agents are also trying to steer clients clear of Mexico's border towns.

"It's a dangerous situation we don't want to put people in a situation where they might run into problems," said Bill Wodarski with Above and Beyond Travel, Inc.

Last week the DEA made one of it's biggest drug busts ever, Operation Xcellerator netted millions of dollars and more than 750 arrests.

"12,000 kilos of cocaine, 1200 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.3 million ecstasy pills and more than 160 weapons," said Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General.

A battle won, while the drug war continues. Governor Rick Perry has called for the U.S to put 1,000 troops on the Mexican border and is asking the Texas legislature for $135 million to support border security. Mexican authorities have placed more than 800 police officers at Mexico City's international airport after a series of armed robberies against travelers. Meanwhile, travel agents are still booking resort-style trips.

"There are places in Mexico that are still safe to go to [like] Cancun, Cozumel, the Playa del Carmen area," said Wodarski.

Still, Murray's parents will not be allowing her to vacation in Mexico until the travel warning is lifted.

"They just think it is really dangerous," said Murray.

Tuesday the Catholic Diocese of Dallas has suspended all youth mission trips to Mexico because of the violence and the University of Texas sent out a travel advisory to students as well.

Some statistics on flights and travelers to Mexico from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport:

From opening day, May 1, 2008 through December 2008, 62,854 passenger traveled through the South Terminal on flights between Austin and Mexico. In January 2009, 4,216 people flew between Austin and Mexico. Peak months May 2008 had 11,020 passengers, June had 10,837 passengers and July had 12,165 passengers.

Ultra low-cost carrier vivaAerobus operates flights between ABIA South Terminal and Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Monterrey. Currently, flying every Thursday and Sunday; though frequency of flights may increase in busier travel seasons like summer.
 

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