Mexico Designing Strategy of "Comprehensive Security" to Protect Foreign Visitors

The Secretary of Tourism of Mexico, Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, said that the government of Enrique Peña Nieto is designing a strategy of "comprehensive security" to protect foreign tourists.

"The Government of Mexico, as any government that values its tourist destinations, is concerned and engaged in providing comprehensive security for tourists," she said. Therefore Peña Nieto has ordered to create a Tourism Office, whose main goal is the comprehensive security, which seeks to coordinate and streamline all government actions to ensure that tourist destinations have acceptable levels of public safety.

“Destinations popular with international visitors should have a police force that knows what to do if a tourist is victim of a crime," said the Secretary of Tourism. She also emphasized that comprehensive security includes not only the issue of public safety but other aspects as well including services designed to help tourists.

"Medical service is very important – the public health authorities should be able to treat international tourists. The visitors should also feel secure that their rights will be protected.

She also referred to the security policy of the Government of Peña Nieto, especially after the emergence of the so-called self-defense groups in the Mexican state of Michoacán, which they argue, is to drive organized crime out of there.

"Coordination, training and prevention are the three pillars of public security policy. Mexico seeks to consolidate the prosperity we all want," she stated.