The Mexican Tourism Board and the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) are making significant efforts to counteract Mexico’s tourism scams and safeguard both foreign visitors and respectable local tourism firms
According to data from Expedia Group, the ever-popular Mexican Caribbean resort town of Cancun is expected to be the most popular summer vacation spot for Americans this year. Riviera Maya, a nearby tropical region, attracts more tourists every year as a result of its stunning natural surroundings, consistently mild climate, and plenty of cultural attractions.
Both locations are found in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where it has suddenly come to light that more than half of the 450,000 cases of tourist fraud committed in Mexico in 2022 took place.
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For Americans hoping to visit Cancun or the neighboring areas for their next holiday, that is undoubtedly a worrying realization. The good news is that both the Mexican Tourism Bureau and the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) are actively tackling these frauds to safeguard both foreign travelers and respectable local tourism establishments.
A nationwide campaign will begin this week with the goal of informing tourists on how to avoid falling for various scams, including buying phony travel packages, in-destination excursions, and more.
Nearly 4,000 travel agencies connected to the Mexico Tourism Bureau gathered in April to develop a plan for lowering the number of dubious travel plans that prey on unwary travellers.
“We want to close the gap in frauds, particularly in online purchases and for those that realize the company does not exist upon arrival, which affects vacations, as well as the destination’s image.”
José Moreno, president of the Mexico Tourism Bureau
“Our main objective is to inform the consumer about the situation with ‘grandiose’ names, such as cyberfraud,” said Felipe Cervantes Vega, president of the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV). ”We want to be on the side of consumers to inform them what is serious and what is not, so that the effort of a whole year does not disappear.”
The Cancun Sun published some advice to help potential tourists avoid Mexico’s tourism scams because tourism fraud is on the rise throughout the Mexican Caribbean.
Avoid Making Bookings on Social Media
We’re all aware of the numerous paid posts that show up in social media feeds and promote incredible vacations at unbelievable rates. However, because these host platforms don’t control or check the integrity of those advertising, social media has emerged as one of the most popular tools used by con artists to dupe consumers into purchasing fraudulent goods. If you come across a vacation deal you want to take advantage of, do some preliminary research on the provider.
Avoid booking deals that seem too good to be true
A fair rule of thumb is that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. By providing travel-related goods and services at significantly lower costs than the going rate, con artists frequently entice travelers who are eager to obtain a fantastic deal.
Use a Reputable Travel Agency to Make Your Reservations
Booking your holiday through a reputable travel agency can ensure that you are not the victim of fraud. Professional travel consultants are much less likely to fall for any scams because of their extensive and specialized knowledge of operators in the area.
Look at the reviews from the clients
It’s a good idea to Google any firm you intend to make a reservation with. You can learn more about the company’s dealings and reputation by reading consumer reviews on Google or another website. Nevertheless, you must exercise caution because con artists occasionally post fictitious reviews for themselves. However, the supplier is generally real if it has a large number of positive ratings and no charges of fraud.
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