As Away.com reports, despite traveler perceptions of safety in Mexico, tourism numbers are on the rise.  Recent polls find that 25 percent of U.S. travelers have concerns about traveling to Mexico due to reports of drug violence, however Mexico continues to be the number-one international destination for Americans.  The latest figures show an increase of 6.7 percent in foreign visitors to Mexico compared to the same period in 2010, and in November 2011, U.S. arrivals were up 3.4 percent.  Away.com says:

Experts on travel to Mexico maintain that savvy travelers will find a safe, welcoming destination. Zachary Rabinor, director general and CEO of Journey Mexico, voted one of the world’s best adventure-travel companies by National Geographic, believes it is safe for tourists to travel to Mexico’s beach resort areas and beyond. “Of course, it’s necessary to take normal precautions as one would whenever traveling abroad,” he says.

The article also touches on recent statistics which show crime zones in Mexico are designated in just 14 of its 31 states, many of which are concentrated along the U.S.-Mexico border; these zones do not include Mexico’s popular beach resorts and other key tourist destinations.  Mexico also maintains a lower homicide rate than almost any country in Central America – and lower than other countries such as Brazil, Russia and South Africa.

Read the full article here.

Lonely Planet’s New York-based U.S. Travel Editor Robert Reid, who has been traveling to Mexico since he was a child, adds to the chorus of travel writers and reporters who consider the warnings against travel to Mexico to be out of context.  While citing that the drug violence in Mexico should be taken seriously, he also asks travelers to be sensible and consider the facts.

He writes:

“What you don’t get from most reports in the US is statistical evidence that Americans are less likely to face violence on average in Mexico than at home, particularly when you zero in on Mexico’s most popular travel destinations. For example, the gateway to Disney World, Orlando, saw 7.5 murders per 100,000 residents in 2010 per the FBI; this is higher than Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, with rates of 1.83 and 5.9 respectively…Yet in March, the Texas Department of Public Safety advised against ‘spring break’ travel anywhere in Mexico, a country the size of the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy combined. Never mind that popular destinations like the Bahamas, Belize and Jamaica have far higher homicide rates …why the singular focus?”

His article goes on to put things in context, stating that Mexico is less dangerous for Americans overall, than…well, America.  According to Reid and FBI crime statistics, Mexico is twice as safe for Texans, than Texas (and three times safer than Houston).  He also points out that most parts of Mexico are not included on the U.S. Travel Advisory for Mexico.

To read the full article, go here.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Mexico’s tourism industry is bouncing back in a big way.  Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism announced in February, that 2011 was a record-breaking year in which the country saw 22.67 million international travelers, and Mexico remains the most popular tourist destination for U.S. travelers.

At the Tianguis Turistico, an annual gathering of travel industry representatives and journalists, and Latin America’s biggest trade show, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, Gloria Guevara announced that Mexico now has, “a 98 percent repeat visitor rate and 99 out of every 100 visitors recommends our destinations.”  Also reported at Tianguis was that the country received 22,000 business appointments, beating last year’s numbers by nearly 40%.

To read the full article, go here.

As Never Stop Traveling reports, Mexico continues to be one of the most popular destinations for American tourists, boasting sandy resorts and culturally rich travel experiences.

The article encourages travelers to exercise common sense safety precautions, as they would in any other foreign country, while enjoying all that Mexico has to offer via the Mexico Tourism Board’s top 10 tourism destinations in Mexico.  These destinations include:

-The sun, sand and waters of Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres

-The lively art, culture and shopping that Mexico City has to offer

-The upscale restaurants and panoramic views of Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit

-The spas, eco-tourism, and year-round, impeccable weather of Baja California Sur: Los Cabos and La Paz

-The music and agave fields of Guadalajara and Tequila in Jalisco

-The charm and world-class golf courses of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

-The art, history, museums and culture of Central Mexico: Queretaro, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City

-The archaeological sites and Mayan culture of the Yucatan: Merida, Uxmal and Chichen Itza

-The natural beauty and breathtaking scenery of Copper Canyon

-The open-air markets and handmade crafts of Chiapas: San Cristobal de las Casas

To read the full article and destination descriptions, go here.

Rachel Denning shares her recent experiences on a family road trip through Mexico, for the popular BootsnAll Indie Travel Guide.

Denning and her family of 7, including her kids (whose ages range from 4 to 2 months), crossed the border from Arizona into Chihuahua, and passed through Durango, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and most of the Yucatan Peninsula before crossing into Belize.

What they experienced was a Mexico far from the “lawless,” “violent,” and “dangerous” Mexico they had been sufficiently warned about.  What they discovered instead was a Mexico “so far from the rumors, news reports, warnings and ‘common knowledge’ that it was almost comical, if it wasn’t so sadly incorrect.”

Says Denning,

“Yes, there are people being killed in Mexico. Yes, there is a drug war going on. Yes, regular precautions should be taken, just as you would if you were taking a trip to the United States for the first time. You probably wouldn’t pick a known gang neighborhood in L.A. as the place you would spend your time.  The same logic applies for visiting Mexico. For the most part, the urban legends  just aren’t true, and if you avoid the “bad parts of town,” the result will be a rich, rewarding experience.”

In her article, she dispels 4 common myths about Mexico.  Those myths include:

-“Because of the drug war, all of Mexico is unsafe”

-“Tourists are being targeted and killed, even in the “safe” areas, and anyone could get caught in the crossfire”

-“If you do go, stick to the touristy areas – they’re the safest for you and your kids”

-“Mexico is just a poor, third world country.  There’s not much to see and do anyway, especially for kids”

She also shares her six favorite destinations in Mexico, which include: Lake Chapala, Morelia, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Laguna Bacalar.

To read Denning’s explanation behind the 4 common myths about Mexico, as well as her travel and destination recommendations, view the full article here.

Seattle Times columnist Carol Pucci decided to address tourist concerns about safety in Mexico by asking readers who had been to or live in Mexico to share their experiences.  Nearly 100 people responded online and through written correspondence.

The general consensus among readers was that there is a noticeable police presence, even in tourist destinations.  While some may view this as a comforting safety measure, others may find it unsettling.  However, most of those who responded agreed that “not going to Mexico because of violence in some areas is like saying you won’t go to Ephrata because there was a shooting in Tacoma.”

Said Bob, from Camano Island:

“”Fearful of visiting Mexico, not us. We visited Loreto (in June). Walked the entire town without any fears. The people were very gracious … Bottom line, we have no concerns about traveling to Mexico. On the other hand, there are two things I wouldn’t do … (go to) border towns, and (take) long driving trips to the interior.”

Pat from Edmonton Alberta had this to say:

“My husband and I have been going to Mexico for three months in the winter for the past 14 years. We stay in San Miguel de Allende and often travel around Mexico. We actually feel safer there than we do here in our hometown.”

Doug from Seattle put things in perspective as well:

“We own a house in Puerto Vallarta, and travel throughout Mexico on the national bus lines. In all the years we have been going, I can count on less than one hand the number of violent crimes of which I am personally aware. No one makes light of the drug violence there, but when was the last time the U.S. government issued travel warnings to various American cities including the nation’s capital?”

To read the rest of reader comments, go here.

CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg has been traveling across Mexico as part of an ongoing media project to spread awareness about Mexico tourism and safety.  Says Greenberg:

“Let me state something from the outset. I am not an unabashed apologist for Mexico, or its spokesman or an endorser. I am writing this as a veteran traveler to Mexico who has been going down there since 1973 without a single incident.

I am growing tired, and somewhat impatient with expressions of concern or worry — as well intentioned as they may be — about my traveling to Mexico.  Every time I am about to fly there — to Cancun, to Cabo, to Ixtapa, to Mexico City and many other locations — my friends, and sometimes even strangers advise me to ‘be careful’, ‘be safe’ or worse… ‘watch out.’  Watch out for what? great people? great weather? great service? affordable, memorable experiences?  We need to get out there and find a map. Then we need to study it to put things in proper perspective”

Greenberg has expressed disappointment with the warnings against spring break travel to Mexico, issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, calling them irresponsible and pointing out that spring break destinations are far from Mexico’s danger zones.

On Mexico’s drug war, Greenberg says “The bottom line here is that Americans are not being targeted in this drug war.”

To read the full article, along with more of Greenberg’s informed travel advice about Mexico – go here.

Despite a steady stream of bad press, CNN reports that Mexico remains a popular destination for spring break vacationers, and continues to hold its place as the top foreign country visited by Americans for over two decades.  The Mexico Tourism Board estimates 52 million domestic and international tourists to the southeastern part of the country in 2012, thanks to public relations efforts to direct tourists to destinations which reflect the experience of most visitors to the country who stay away from Northern areas, which are plagued by cartel-related violence.

The press jumped on the heels of the latest U.S. Travel Advisory for Mexico in February, however Rodolfo Lopez Negrete, the CEO of Mexico’s Tourism Board views the advisory as a positive thing, saying he welcomed the extent to which the advisory pinpointed which areas to avoid, and which ones were safe.  Negrete told CNN:

“We try to put things within the proper context of making sure people understand that if there are problems in certain pockets of the country, that doesn’t mean the major resort destinations and city center destinations are in danger.  Mexico is a very large country, the size of western Europe, so it’s unfair to paint Mexico with such a massively broad stroke.”

There are many places in Mexico for which there is no travel advisory in effect, including Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, San Miguel de Allende, and Mexico City, the nation’s capital.  Travelers are always advised to exercise caution in order to avoid being victims of petty crime – a danger in all countries – however the drug-related violence focused on by the media is far removed from these destinations.

To read the full article, go here.

The U.S. State Department issued its most recent Travel Advisory for Mexico in February, highlighting the areas of Mexico that are safe for travel.  Those areas include:

• Baja California South, including Cabo San Lucas
• Parts of Southern Mexico including Campeche, Chiapas
• Central Mexico including Estado de Mexico, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Leon and Hidalgo, Puebla, Queretaro
• Mexico City
• Oaxaca including Huatulco and Puerto Escondido
• Quintana Roo including Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Tulum
• Tabasco including Villahermosa
• Tlaxcala
• Yucatan including Merida and Chichen Itza

States to avoid or to exercise caution in include:

• Chihuahua
• Tijuana
• Coahuila
• Durango
• Nuevo Leon
• Sinaloa

As both Travel Mexico and State Department point out, every year, millions of travelers from the United States cross into Mexico for business, pleasure or educational purposes.  From Travel Mexico :

In fact, over 150,000 U.S. citizens venture into Mexico on a daily basis. The Mexican government spends a considerable amount of resources to protect tourists from both the U.S. and other countries. As a result, resorts and other tourist destinations do not have the type of drug-related crime that is seen in the border regions or along the primary trafficking routes. Plus, the State Department has found that there is no evidence that any organized criminal group in Mexico has targeted U.S. citizens based on their country of origin.

You can read the full Travel Advisory for Mexico at the State Department’s website, here.

Popular travel news website Gadling recently released a list of the safest destinations to visit in Mexico.  The list includes popular tourist destinations such as the Yucatan, which encompasses the resort beach towns of Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen as well as the archaeological wonders of Chichen Itza and the metropolitan city of Merida.  The list also includes the historical towns of Puebla and Queretaro, the storied metropolis of Mexico City, and the charming, artistic enclaves (and expatriate favorites) of Todos Santos and San Miguel de Allende.

To read the full article, go here.