The civil unrest and "narco blockades" have calmed after sweeping across Western Mexico yesterday following a Mexican security operation that resulted in the death of a notorious cartel leader, but shelter-in-place advisories still are in effect in some areas.
Travel in and out of the state of Jalisco — specifically the airports in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta — has slowly resumed, although cancellations and delays continue to disrupt schedules.
The operation that killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, occurred near the Jalisco town of Tapalpa, a picturesque mountain spot about two hours from Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco and the second-largest city in Mexico. In response to the killing, cartel associates caused widespread disruption, centered in Jalisco and the bordering western states. The violence largely took the form of "narco blockades," essentially closing highways and major thoroughfares by burning buses and other large vehicles. Gas stations also were burned.
The U.S. embassy and consulates in Mexico have pared back yesterday's security alert, but are continuing to urge U.S. citizens to shelter in place in the Guadalajara area and in Puerto Vallarta, as well as in the state of Nayarit, home to many resorts just north of Puerto Vallarta. Sheltering in place also is advised in Tijuana, Chiapas and Michoacán, due to ongoing incidents.
The updated alert specifies that the situation has returned to normal in the states of Quintana Roo (home to Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum), Sinaloa (home to Mazatlán) and Tamulipas.
Jalisco airport disruptions
All airports in Mexico are open and operational, although the Puerto Vallarta facility continues to face disruptions due to availability of flight crews. As of this morning, the airport was reporting 47 cancellations and one delay, although changes remain fluid as the day progresses.
Some groups currently in the Puerto Vallarta region continue to shelter in place out of an abundance of caution while their flights are reconfirmed, according to Kate Patay, vice president of global engagement for the Terramar DMC Network. "We have identified and are actively utilizing three alternate routes to ensure safe and seamless transportation between the resorts and the airport, which helped us to safely transfer guests that departed yesterday, as well," she added.
American Airlines canceled operations today in Puerto Vallarta, and reduced flights in and out of Guadalajara. United Airlines has resumed operations but has a flight waiver in place throughout the week to support any travelers who need to change their plans.
Highway traffic in and out of the Guadalajara area is slowly resuming but remains light today. One traveler described a scene of burned out vehicles lining some stretches of highway. Schools and many restaurants, bars and other businesses in Jalisco remain closed today.
Situation under control for groups
Crucially, travel and meeting professionals are seeking to reassure travelers and visiting groups that they are not being targeted by the unrest.
"The situation remains contained to specific locations within that region [around Jalisco] and is not impacting other destinations where Terramar operates," noted Terramar's Patay. "All other regions in the area are fully operational."
Delivering clear messaging has been crucial, as there is an abundance of misinformation circulating on social media. "That is why we are maintaining close, real-time communication with our teams, trusted vendors and local authorities to ensure we are working from accurate, verified information," continued Patay, who added that all Terramar groups in the region are safe and secure.
While there are claims on social media that civilians have been threatened or targeted, it should be noted that it is not the typical M.O. of the cartels in these instances. Traditionally these blockades have demonstrated shows of force while allowing civilians time to evacuate and disperse. That said, advisories to shelter in place and to exercise extreme caution should be taken seriously as the situation continues to play out. As one Guadalajara resident added, "I think normal life will resume tomorrow, but you never know."
