Puerto Vallarta Rentals Blog

The U.S. is 8th in the world in total crimes at 80.0645 per 1000 residents, giving you an 8% chance of being a victim in the U.S., compared to Mexico that ranks 39th in total crime in the world with a per capita of slightly less than 13 crimes per 1000 residents¦ That is a 1.3% chance of being a victim of crime in Mexico.

According to almost every measure, Mexico is much safer than the U.S.:
Assaults in the U.S. ranks number 6, Mexico number 20
Burglaries in the U.S. ranks number 17, Mexico number 34
Car thefts in the U.S. ranks number 9, Mexico number 22
Fraud in the U.S. ranks number 18, Mexico number 29
Rape in (Canada number 5) the U.S. ranks number 9, Mexico number 17

My personal experiences are that Puerto Vallarta is the safest, most crime-free city I’ve ever lived in (and I’ve lived in dozens) and that typically Mexicans are much more honest than Americans or Canadians. Of course, there are all kinds so take heed of your activities and surroundings in any place.

Almost any other country in the world has crime. I have not yet seen any gun shooting on the streets, nor any of my American and Canadian Friends that keep coming every year, as they quoted “I feel much safer in Puerto vallarta than in Detroit or NYC”.

False rumors are on the media, so friends from the US call me to ask if Puerto Vallarta is safe for them and their children.

Well I would´t be living here if I didn’t feel safe, nor would all the tourists keep coming to stay for 3-6 month periods every year. Mexicans have been treating me with respect and caring.

Mexico’s Tourism Board (SECTUR) announced that nearly 190 million tourists enjoyed the wide diversity of attractions of our country in 2011. That number breaks the previous record of 185.7 million registered in 2008.

This way the year of tourism, as 2011 was declared by President Felipe Calderón, can be regarded as a complete success; leaving behind the difficult years of 2009 and 2010, when different factors combined to create a ‘perfect storm’ crisis in the industry.

The 190 million of tourists in 2011 represents a growth of 3.7% in comparison to 2010 and a 10.6% in comparison to 2009.

Regarding international tourism, 2011 was also a historic year with a record number of 22.67 million of international tourists.

But maybe the best news is the fact that even when the number of American visitors to Mexico was down 4%, the overall number keeps steadily growing. This tendency is a consequence of SECTUR’s efforts to diversify our markets.

2011 registered an important increment on visitors from Brazil (66%), Russia (55%), Peru (37%) and China (30%). These numbers bring hope that when the American economy recovers from the present recession, the overall numbers of the tourism industry will grow even more, as the United States is Mexico’s most important market.

This is great news for the Mexican tourism industry that has the goal to become one of the top five tourism markets in the world by 2018.

New York, February 9, 2012 – The February 8th update to the U.S. Department’s Travel Warning to Mexico does not include the city of Puerto Vallarta. The popular vacation destinationPuerto Vallarta is a leading destination in Mexico and continues to offer a wide range of shore excursions and a safe experience for all international visitors., located more than 1,200 miles from the border between Mexico and the US where other drug related violence has taken place, the same distance that separates Los Angeles to Dallas, or New York to Miami.

Puerto Vallarta continues to be one of the safest destinations for international travelers. A recent security/threat assessment study conducted by Thomas Dale & Associates (TDA), a leading global investigative and security firm, found that the number of negative events involving foreigners or non-foreigners is fractional compared to the large ex-pat resident population and the millions of visitors that come to vacation each year in Puerto Vallarta. The study also found that visitors to the destination feel safe and continue to visit Puerto Vallarta numerous times throughout their lifetime.

Highly regarded media and their readers have continuously voted Puerto Vallarta as one of their favorite destinations, giving it numerous accolades and awards, including, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine: “Favortie Destination” for 5 years in a row; Travelocity: one of 10 top “Summer Family Destinations” in 2011, and AARP: one of the “Top 10 Best Places to Retire.”

Thomas Dale & Associates (TDA) just released a study, concluding that Puerto Vallarta is one of the safest tourist destinations for international and national tourists.

The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board appointed TDA, a global investigative and security firm who lists several Fortune 100 companies amongst its clients, to complete a Security/Threat assessment.

The international security company visited the destination from April 6-13 to conduct interviews and a thorough assessment on the ground, and based on findings develop a comprehensive report in relation to all aspects of tourist security in the destination.? ?TDA individually interviewed domestic as well as international tourists, American and Canadian Consuls, retired ex-pats, time-share members, part-time residents, seasonal boaters, business owners, hospital administrators, gay community business representatives, health insurance professionals, cabbies, conventioneers and honeymooners.

The interviews were followed up by requests to local law enforcement sources for crime data and department deployment. The Civil Protection Department (FIMA) was also consulted regarding natural disasters.? ?The interviews focused on the following three areas; safety in Puerto Vallarta and the perception of its visitors; personal experiences and the U.S. Travel Warning to Mexico.? ?The study found that the number of negative events involving foreigners or non-foreigners is fractional compared to the large ex-pat resident population and the millions of visitors that come to vacation each year in Puerto Vallarta.

Overall the study found that visitors to the destination feel safe and continue to visit Puerto Vallarta numerous times through their lifetime and that the destination’s support services are well above the average standards and dedicated to serving the visiting public.

In relations to the drug wars, TDA found that the limited land transit makes the smuggling of guns and drugs through Puerto Vallarta very difficult and thus a non-issue in the destination.?

Visit: http://www.puerto-vallarta-rentals.com

First: A reality check on Mexico

Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the
US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A.
cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this
protectionist role. The U.S. media – over the last year – has portrayed Mexico
as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The Mexican people
are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The
American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to
spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week
period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left
behind hundreds of millions of dollars.

Let’s look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem,
kidnappings, murders and money. The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was
clear in her honest assessment of the problem. “Our insatiable demand for
illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from
being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the
deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians,” Clinton said. The other large
illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about
is Human Traffic for prostitution. This “business” is globally now competing
with drugs in terms of profits.

It is critical to understand, however that the horrific violence in Mexico is over
95% confined to the three transshipping cities for these two businesses,
Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales. The Mexican government is so serious about
fighting this, that they have committed over 30,000 soldiers to these borders
towns. There was a thoughtful article written by a professor at the University
of Juarez. He was reminded of the Prohibition years in the U.S.A. and
compared Juarez to Chicago when Al Capone was conducting his reign of
terror capped off with The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. During these
years, just like Juarez today, 99% of the citizens went about their daily lives
and attended classes, went to the movies, restaurants, and parks.

Is there corruption in Mexico? YES !!! Is there an equal amount of corruption
related to this business in the U.S.A.? YES !!!. When you have a pair of illegal
businesses that generate over $300,000,000,000 in sales you will find massive
corruption. Make no mistake about the Mexican Drug Cartel;
these “businessmen” are 100 times more sophisticated than the bumbling
bootleggers during Prohibition. They form profitable alliances all over the
U.S.A. They do cost benefit analysis of their business much better than the US
automobile industry. They have found over the years that the cost of bribing
U.S. and Mexican Border Guards and the transportation costs of moving
marijuana from Sinaloa to California have cut significantly into profits. That is
why over the past 5-7 years they have been growing marijuana in State and
Federal Parks and BLM land all across America. From a business standpoint,
this is a tremendous cost savings on several levels. Let’s look at California as
an example as one of the largest consumers. When you have $14.2 billion of
Marijuana grown and consumed in one state, there is savings on
transportation, less loss of product due to confiscation and an overall reduction
cost of bribery with law enforcement and parks service people. Another great
savings is the benefit to their employees. The penalties in Mexico for growing
range from 5-15 years. The penalties in California, on average are 18 months,
and out in 8 months. The same economic principles are now being applied to
the methamphetamine factories.

FOX News continues to scare people with its focus on kidnapping. There are
kidnappings in Mexico. The concentration of kidnappings has been in Mexico
City, among the very rich and the three aforementioned border Cities. With
the exception of Mexico City, the number one city for kidnappings among
NAFTA countries is Phoenix, Arizona with over 359 in 2008. The Phoenix Police
estimate that twice that number of kidnappings goes unreported, because like
Mexico 99% of these crimes were directly related to drug and human traffic.
Phoenix, unfortunately, is geographically profitable transshipping location.
Mexicans, just like 99% of U.S. Citizens during prohibition, go about their daily
lives all over the country. They get up, go to school or work and live their
lives untouched by the border town violence.

These same protectionist news sources have misled the public as to the real
danger from the swine flu in Mexico and temporary devastated the tourism
business. As of May 27 2009 there have been 87 deaths in Mexico from the
swine flu. During those same five months there have been 36 murdered
school children in Chicago. By their logic, if 87 deaths from the swine flu in
Mexico warrants canceling flights and cruise ships to Mexico, then close all
roads and highways in the USA because of record 43,359 automobile related
deaths in the USA in 2008.

What is just getting underway is what many are calling the “Largest southern
migration to Mexico of people and real estate assets since the Civil War” A
significant percentage of the Baby Boomers have been doing the research and
are making the life changing decision to move out of the U.S.A. The number
one retirement destination in the world is Mexico. There are already over
2,000,000 US and Canadian property owners in Mexico. The most
conservative number of American and Canadian Baby Boomers who are on
their way to owning property in Mexico for full or part time living in the next
15 years is over 6,000,000. Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a
$300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is
trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The
U.S. government calls this “The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007”.
Those who will have to pay it are calling this the EXIT TAX.

Mexico: A better economic choice than China

Another large exodus from the U.S.A is high paying skilled jobs. The job shift
in automobile sector, both car and parts manufacturing, is already known by
most investors. In the last few months as John Deere and Caterpillar have
been laying off thousands of workers in the U.S.A., and hiring equal numbers
in Mexico. The most recent industry that is making the shift is the aerospace
manufacturers. In the city of Zacatecas there is currently a $210 million
aerospace facility being built. With the 11 U.S. companies moving there, it is
estimated to provide over 200,000 new high paying jobs in the coming years.
One of the main factors for the shift in job south to Mexico instead of China is
realistic analysis of total production, labor and delivery costs. While the labor
costs in China are 40% less on average, the overall transportation costs and
inherent risks of a long distance supply chain, and quality control issues, gives
Mexico a distinct financial advantage.

Mexico’s real economic future

Mexico has avoided completely the subprime problem that has devastated the
U.S. banking industry. The Mexican banks are healthy and profitable. Mexico
has a growing and very healthy middle and upper middle class. The very
recent introduction of residential financing has Mexico in a unique position of
having over 90% of current homeowners owning their house outright. U.S.
banks are competing for the Mexican, Canadian and American cross border
loan business. It is and will continue to be a very safe and very profitable
business. These same banks that were loaning in a reckless manner have
learned their lesson and are loaning here the old fashioned way. They require
a minimum of a 680 credit score, 30% down payment, and verifiable income
that can support the loan. In most areas of Mexico where Baby Boomers are
moving to, with the exception of Puerto Penasco (which did not have a
national and international base of buyers), there is no real estate bubble.. The
higher end markets ($2-20 million) in many of these destinations are going
through a modest correction. The Baby Boomers market here is between
$200,000 and $600,000. With the continuing demand inside the Bay of
Banderas, that price point, in the coming years, will disappear. This is the
reason the Mexican government is spending billions of dollars on more
infrastructure north along the coast all the way up to Mazatlan.

The other major area where America has become overpriced is in the field of
health care. This massive shift of revenues is estimated to add 5-7% to
Mexico’s GDP. The name for this “business” is Medical Tourism. The two
biggest competitors for Mexico were Thailand and India. Thailand and India’s
biggest drawback is geography. Also recent events, Thailand’s inability to
keep a government in place and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, have
helped Mexico capture close to half of this growth industry. In Mexico today
there are over 56 world class hospitals being built to keep up with this
business.

Mexico is currently sitting on a cash surplus and an almost balanced budget.
Most Americans have never heard of Carlos Slim until he loaned the New York
Times $250 million. After that it became clear to many investors around the
world what Mexicans already knew: that Mexico had been able to avoid the
worst of the U.S. economic devastation. Mexico’s resilience is to be admired.
When the U.S. Federal Reserve granted a $30 billion loan to each of Mexico,
Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil, Mexico reinvested the money in Treasury
bonds in an account in New York City.

According to oil traders, Mexico’s Pemex wisely as the price of oil shot to $147
a barrel put in place an investment strategy that hinged on oil trading in the
range of $38-$60 a barrel. Since the beginning of 2009 Mexico has been
collecting revenues on hedged positions that give them $90-$110 per barrel
today. Mexico’s recent and under reported oil discovery in the Palaeo
Channels of Chicontepec has placed it third in the world for oil reserves, right
behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.

The following is a quote from Rosalind Wilson, President of the Canadian
Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 2009. “The strength of the Mexican
economic system makes the country a favorite destination for Canadian
investment”.

OPPORTUNITIES: WHY PUERTO VALLARTA & THE RIVIERA NAYARIT

The answer is simple and old fashioned: SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

The area of Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit inside the Bay of Banderas is an
investor’s dream. This area has the comprehensive infrastructure in place,
world class hospitals and dental care, natural investment protection from the
Sierra Madre Mountains, endless future water supply, low to nonexistent
crime, international airport, and limited supply inside the Bay, first class
private bilingual schools and higher than average appreciation potential. Like
many areas in Mexico there is large demand for full and part time retirement
living and a lot of construction underway to meet this demand. Pre
construction of course is where the best bargains are available.

I would offer a word of caution for investors in Mexico. Do not be seduced by
the endless natural beauty that is everywhere, both inland in colonial towns
and along thousands of miles of beach. Apply conservative medium and long
term investment strategies without emotion. The demand for full and part
time living by American and Canadian Baby Boomers is evident throughout
the country. The top two choice locations are ocean front, and ocean view.
The third overall choice, which is less expensive, is inland in one of the many
beautiful colonial towns or small cities.

Mexico, with the world’s 13th largest GDP, is no longer a “Third World
Country”, but rather a fast growing, economically secure state, as the most
recent five-year history of its financial markets when compared to the U.S.A.’s
financial markets suggests.

DOW JONES AVERAGES MAY 2004 10,200 – MAY 2009 8,200 20% LOSS IN 5
YEARS

MEXICAN BOLSA MAY 2004 10,000 – MAY 2009 23,000 130% GAIN IN 5 YEARS

Robert P. Miller, PhD

Despite the increase in drug-related violence, a closer look at Mexico shows that the country is actually safer than what headlines suggest. As a whole, Mexico’s murder rate is surprisingly low: 12 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants. When compared to Washington, D.C.’s 31 people per 100,000 inhabitants and New Orleans 64, the numbers aren’t cause for concern if you know where to not go.

According a recent US State Department’s report, the state of Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta are in the minimum percentage category of violent crimes.

OXXO is Mexico?s equivalent of 7-11’S or convenience food marts in the USA. Puerto Vallarta has 200 now and they plan to open 1 per week in 2009, they are owned by the parent company of Sol beer. They also brew & sell Tecate, Dos Eequts (xx) plus Coors and Indio of Mexico. They are trying to increase their market share up over Corona, no Corona sold at OXXO stores. They have 7,000 stores nation wide now. The mom and pop small groceries are a thing of the past now. They are experiencing the same fate that occurred when Sam?s, Wall-Mart, Office Depot and then Home Depot opened in Puerto Vallarta.

Santos Santana takes in a breath and gives a long gaze at the man pounding away with his jackhammer on the pier, as a frogman dips in and out of the water splashing around the structure gradually being taken apart. For the lanky, 30-year veteran of Puerto Vallarta’s tourist trade, the project scheduled for completion sometime this year can’t come soon enough.

Already grappling with a slow season, boatmen and tour operators like Santana on Los Muertos Beach have an additional problem: they find it harder to load passengers directly from the beach’s sands while the old pier is torn down and replaced with a new one. “Less people, less money,” Santos sighs.

“I hope it’s better, so there will be better service,” he says. “This is the most popular zone of Puerto Vallarta.”

The new Los Muertos pier is just one aspect of the renovation of Puerto Vallarta’s downtown and adjoining areas. Even as what passes for this year’s winter high season kicks into full gear, a multi-pronged campaign to freshen up the Mexican resort’s historic center is underway.

Supported by federal, state and municipal funds, the downtown revitalization includes the expansion of sidewalks, the painting of houses, the removal of above-ground telephone and cable wires, the construction of a new foot bridge over the Rio Cuale, the creation of a long walking tour and the eventual opening of new museums.

According to Jose Luis Diaz Borioli, director of Puerto Vallarta’s municipal tourism department, the local government is planning to close Puerto Vallarta’s downtown city hall and move it to another section of the city later this year.

In its place, a museum of still-undetermined character will be established. And to oversee a new downtown and keep it orderly and thriving, a special governing and financing authority, or Patronato, with a long-term mission has been formed, Diaz says.

“We’re trying to make the downtown more active, and we’re trying to make an institution that will continue regardless of who is in government,” Diaz adds.

The tourism official says the world trend of revitalizing downtowns to grow tourism in places like Bilbao, Spain, makes it imperative for Puerto Vallarta to counter the competition and freshen up its own historic center. Of the three top Mexican resorts- Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta- the Pacific port on Banderas Bay has a unique draw, Diaz
says.

“Puerto Vallarta is the only one that has a little Mexican town, and this little town 20 years ago was what made the difference in travelers coming to Puerto Vallarta,” he adds. Diaz and many other residents consider the recovery and preservation of Puerto Vallarta’s historic and cultural soul
a burning necessity.

As veteran Mexico travelers can attest, the Puerto Vallarta of 20 or 30 years ago is a far cry from the bustling city of today.

According to a 2008 book authored by Puerto Vallarta’s official historian Juan Manuel Gomez Encarnacion, the city’s population soared from 38,645 people in 1980 to 220,368 in 2005.

In recent years Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Costco came to town; indoor shopping malls enclosed upscale stores; the Oxxo and Kiosco convenience store chains spread from block-to-block; condominium towers lorded over beaches; multicinemas rolled out their screens, and a trio of gaming parlours began sucking in money.

Prior to the global financial meltdown that struck in 2008, the Mexican government’s National Trust Fund for Tourism Development (FONATUR) projected that Puerto Vallarta and the so-called Riveria Nayarit on the northern end of Banderas Bay would have 53,000 available guest rooms to lodge six million tourists by 2025, according to Gomez.

Housing the working-class of the tourist trade, underdeveloped neighborhoods lacking paved roads and basic services popped up on the city’s edges, replicating a pattern of development present in virtuallly every other large Mexican and Latin American city.

Traffic jams, garbage disposal problems and beach pollution were all part of the package. Several years ago, talk became intense of the “Acapulcoization” of the once-tranquil town.

Some locals contend that the even more rapid development of Nuevo Vallarta and the Riveria Nayarit came at the expense of Puerto Vallarta proper.

Although Puerto Vallarta hosts the regional airport, many visitors are quickly whisked away to all-inclusive lodgings just across the state line in Nayarit, which benefits from the tourist dollars and any subsequent tax revenues that are collected. Indeed, the apperance of a specific Riveria Nayarit stand separate from the national one at last month’s international tourism fair in Spain attracted press notice.

Martin Puebla, vice-president of the Puerto Vallarta branch of the CANACO-Servtur business association, contends that Puerto Vallarta and the Riveria Nayarit are one destination that should be jointly promoted. He says that protecting the environment by improving wastewater treatment and adopting eco-friendly practices are essential steps in safeguarding
Puerto Vallarta’s indentity and future.

“At the end of the day, nature is why people come to Puerto Vallarta,” Puebla says. “People have become more sensitive about the ecosystem.”

According to the 13-year resident of the Pacific resort, the pending construction of a new, fast highway from the huge state capital of Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta will be an important test for balancing development and environmental protection.

Puebla, whose organization counts 350 local affiliates, contends the new road should avoid damage to the zone he calls “the mountain,” or the area that encompasses the biologically diverse Sierra Madre foothills. “If we destroy the mountain, another one won’t rise up,” Puebla says.

The business sector representative backs the downtown revitalization program currently underway, saying it is a chance to restore a charm that lured so many newcomers in the past. “The downtown will be only for tourists,” Puebla asserts. “We can save a piece like a capsule in time.”

Exhuding a laugh, Puebla adds, “People will see a Mexican town and not a Taco Bell.”

Puebla says three years of a crisis economy allowed some to step back a bit and re-envision what Puerto Vallarta should be like in the future. He compares his town’s experiences with the movie “A Day without Mexicans,” in which all sorts of calamities befall US citizens dependent on a migrant Mexican labor force that has suddenly disappeared.

“We are learning what it is to spend a day without tourists,” Puebla affirms.

Looking beyond the downtown project, Canaco-Servytur is in the process of elaborating a vision statement that will serve as a guide for future development, “Puerto Vallarta 2025,” he adds.

“We’ve learned the lesson that we have to work hard and see the future,” Puebla says. “If we don’t work the Puerto Vallarta brand,”
nobody will do it.”

Is it safe to travel to Mexico even Puerto Vallarta? taka a look and tell me what you think.

Puerto Vallarta condo rentals

The US government is considering warning its citizens to stay away from crowded places in Europe because of the threat of an al-Qaeda commando-style attack, the BBC has learned.

US and UK officials have confirmed that updated guidance may be issued because of the current terror threat.

A UK official said the travel advisory would not be country-specific.

It would also not go as far as advising against travel to Europe, the official said.

The advisory will be issued in response to intelligence on an al-Qaeda plan to assemble teams of gunmen and send them into crowded places to kill western civilians, similar to the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.

After intelligence details of the plan had been leaked to the US media last week, officials said that the plan had not been stopped but that an attack was not expected to be carried out imminently.

Officials said that several individuals were still under surveillance.

The suspects include British citizens of Pakistani and German citizens of Afghan origin.

Recent US drone raids in Pakistan reportedly targeted the al-Qaeda militants who inspired the plans.

US officials said that a travel alert might be issued as early as Sunday.

Such a warning could have negative consequences for European tourism if travellers fear that there is a risk of terror attacks.