Acapulco tourism feels chill over wave of Mexico violence
- 10 years ago
On the beaches of Acapulco in Mexico's Guerrero state, a life of leisure is never far.
Nor are the dazzling hotels.
But these days the city has taken on a different reputation.
Violent protests have rocked Guerrero in recent weeks as anger swells over the apparent massacre of 43 students by corrupt police and drug gang members last month.
Local business owners say the violence is causing a drop in tourism.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, CATAN RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:
"It's already affected Acapulco a lot, Acapulco has collapsed, without tourism, without people. The highway was blocked, and so was the airport. As I said not long ago, if this were in Mexico City, in Cancun, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, they would never have been allowed to block the airport. And what happened here? Who's going to come to Acapulco? The whole world is scared to come to Acapulco."
Occupancy rates at the city's hotels are at just 20 percent -- far short of the 85 perc
Nor are the dazzling hotels.
But these days the city has taken on a different reputation.
Violent protests have rocked Guerrero in recent weeks as anger swells over the apparent massacre of 43 students by corrupt police and drug gang members last month.
Local business owners say the violence is causing a drop in tourism.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, CATAN RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:
"It's already affected Acapulco a lot, Acapulco has collapsed, without tourism, without people. The highway was blocked, and so was the airport. As I said not long ago, if this were in Mexico City, in Cancun, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, they would never have been allowed to block the airport. And what happened here? Who's going to come to Acapulco? The whole world is scared to come to Acapulco."
Occupancy rates at the city's hotels are at just 20 percent -- far short of the 85 perc