In 2011, the once booming tourist site of Mazatlan, Mexico was hit with the news that cruise ships would no longer be stopping there, leaving many local people without jobs.
The ships stopped coming, citing security and safety concerns. However, tourist officials and locals insist that safety should not be a concern in Mazatlan, and urge Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, and Disney Cruise Lines to return.
Sadly, the Mexican tourist location known for its large Carnaval celebrations is simply another victim of the country’s war on drugs. As the government tries to crack down on the the drug cartels and trafficking, the cartels have begun fighting amongst themselves for ever bit of land available, with many being killed in the crossfire.
Still, Mexico’s tourism board has maintained that while there are areas of extreme violence, Mexico is still home to some of the world’s best (and safest) vacation destinations.
For the people of Mazatlan, hope rests with the return of the cruise ships.
A sign of better times may be ahead, as Princess Cruises announced in October that it would once again offer cruises from California to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan in 2012.
