Alleged 'gang-rape' may stain Mexico for Canadian tourists
If you’ve traveled to Mexico over the years, chances are, you had a wonderful time.
The beaches are beautiful. The resorts, for the most part, are clean. The food … well, the beaches are beautiful.
Yet every year there seems to be a rash of anti-Mexico stories making news, many of them involving Canadians. The latest, perhaps, is a black eye the nation might not so easily recover from.
According to the CBC, a Canadian woman was allegedly gang-raped by Mexican police in a Playa del Carmen jail on New Year’s Eve.
Rebecca Rutland, a 41-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., told the Canadian outlet she and her fiancé were jailed on Dec. 31 after a confrontation between him and local cops. There, after the pair were said to have been robbed by the police, as well, Rutland says two officers took turns raping her, while other authorities stood watching in Kevlar vests holding machine guns.
Mexican authorities, for their part, have since denied the attack, and a rape kit test on Rutland turned up negative, notes the CBC.
Still, whether any conclusion is drawn from the allegations, it’s safe to say: damage done for Mexico.
This latest stain on the country’s safety rep for tourists certainly isn’t isolated – tales of drink druggings and being left to die come in no small dose online – and it’s fit to wonder how much more the strained Mexican tourism biz can handle.
If you believe Mexican officials, there’s nothing to worry about. And, surely, these instances may just be a drop in the ocean, all told: one Embassy of Mexico in Canada official tells the Calgary Sun Canadians traveling to Mexico is still a “thriving” industry. From January to October, 2010, for example, the number of Canadian tourists visiting Mexico was 22.9 per cent higher than it was for the same period a year earlier.
Though, the headlines are no less damning. Following 30 dead bodies being strewn about Acapulco this year – 15 of them having been decapitated by drug assassins, no less – the city’s tourism is already taking a dive, according to the L.A. Times.
Will the rest of Mexico follow suit? What is your worst Mexico travel story?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Dana | Jan 21, 2022 8:37:40 AM
Most of you commentators are complete morons.
Let's all boycott Mexico. Smart thinking, idiots.
Posted by: Dacite | Jan 21, 2022 8:45:16 AM
A woman dead in Woodstock. A policeman murdered by a snowplow. Guns in schools. Shootings on the streets of Toronto. Drug violence in Vancouver. etc. etc..... I wonder how all of you can live in this dangerous country. Mexico definitely has its problems, but every story seems to be overplayed by the media to sensationalize.If you think there are other places to go to that are safer, you are sadly mistaken (That includes staying home) . The press just hasn't gotten a hold of all the local stories .
Mexicans are lovely people. The country is beautiful and just as safe as anywhere else. Stay out of the border towns, don't act stupid and get back to reality. Per number of tourists, how many really get hurt ? How much safer is it to be out and about in Canada? We are just familiar with our surroundings, so we have an illusion of safety here and danger there!!!
Posted by: Ron | Jan 21, 2022 9:10:42 AM
We live in Mexico -Lake Chapala actually - we have experienced the warmth and friendliness of our neighbours. They still cherish family where mom ,dad,kids grandparents picnic on Sunday. Many tourists bring grief to themselves as they expect ,some demand, the kind of life style they have in their community in Canada ,instead of accepting a different culture. No matter what country you visit,there is crime and violence -- it is unfortunate that several of the writers have had negative experiences but iam sure people who have travelled to Canada have some negative stories as well.I wonder how many of these Canadians who have had negative experiences would have them wherever they travel.
Posted by: Paul | Jan 21, 2022 9:16:00 AM
Too all of you that want to vist mexico the fact of the matter is there is great weather but is not worth your life it is very dangers place as canadian l use to lived in mexico for the past little while knowing mexico very well as l traveled many places there in mexico as there culture is that of violance corupition as l was almost killed my self by mexicans & police they just want your money or put you in jail l would stay away it is a country that has many troubled ways with police drug lords as they run the country not its goverment & it is every were in mexico so you see it is not worth the kiss of death to me any way as l was not there just for a vist as most mexico it is very dangers place with many problems
Posted by: Carl | Jan 21, 2022 9:23:09 AM
Paul, you're an obvious lying troll. You gotta do better than that.
Posted by: dj | Jan 21, 2022 9:26:48 AM
Yes there are incidents of violence, however some all seem to have a twist to them. I have seen too many tourists act like idiots in a foreign country. Getting drunk, going out all night, being loud mouthed and rude to locals and authority figures, I am surprised there are not more incidents. I am not sure who would go to a foreign country without first doing some homework to learn the do's and don'ts. (But it seems from the posts I see here many of you are far more knowledgeable than me) Frankly there are just as many places in Toronto or just about any other Canadian locale I do not feel safe in and certainly would not be partying drunk in the street all night long. I am fine if the media continue to paint a negative picture as that drives prices down and that is good for my wallet. By the way I am posting this from the Mayan Riviera
Posted by: Alex | Jan 21, 2022 9:39:30 AM
To all the people saying Mexico is safe and we should look at how violent our own country is....Your logic is ridiculous! Mexico vs Canada when it comes to safety? Mexico is a third world country! Comparing any third world country to Canada in terms of safety is a dumb comparison. I agree why go to Mexico when there are so many other places in the world that are beautiful and will treat you well and you don't have to "just stay on the resort" to have a safe fun vacation. Canadians who go to Mexico and think the "whiners" need to get out more? You need to get out more! Maybe you should travel to places other than those "Cheap Travel Deals" specials to Mexico and that other shithole the Dominican Republic!
Posted by: shirley | Jan 21, 2022 9:46:35 AM
Note to Pat: We drive to Mexico almost every year and have done so for the past 15 years. Presently we are in Mazatlan and I just want to correct Pat on the location of the recent shooting of the BC man. It was on the street between Wal Mart and Ley, which is a near by busy shopping area for tourists, visitors and richer locals. It is too bad what a few greedy Drug Dealers are doing to an other wise wonderful country.
Posted by: Rick | Jan 21, 2022 9:49:19 AM
My wife and I have travelled extensively throughout Mexico over the past 20 years--both driving and flying to parts of the country. Yes, Mexico is not at the same level as Canada. That is why people love going there. To see another way of life and appreciate the country. We have had one scare but it was with someone who was mentally ill. That could happen as easily in Canada.
Anyway, we love going to Mexico and will continue in the future.
If you frequent bars and get drunk, you are asking for trouble. This will happen in Canada too and don't forget it.
Anyway, we encourage Canadians to expand your horizons and see a different lifestyle and appreciate their culture--we certainly do.
Posted by: dj | Jan 21, 2022 10:07:50 AM
Alex, you should clean up your contribution before hitting the "post" button
Posted by: Steve | Jan 21, 2022 10:28:34 AM
Perhaps CBS Evening News got it wrong on 12 Aug 2021 when they listed Juarez, Mexico as Murder Capital of the World.
Reading the posts here Mexico seems wonderful, I wonder why so many Mexicans risk their lives to get into the USA?
Posted by: roger demelo | Jan 21, 2022 10:44:01 AM
Most of the comments seem to be split if I was going to a hot spot I would rather go some place that would be less just chance fo being victimized. Most people when they vaction like to be able to go out and sight-see. Me personally I have always wanted to go to Hawaii I never seem to hear negative thing about it and there is plenty to see with out have to worry about being in the cross fire of a drug war.
Posted by: Bob | Jan 21, 2022 10:53:55 AM
WE have a Villa in Nuevo Vallarta and have had it for four years and i have never felt unsafe. I have a vehicle here and travel all over with out any incidents. I always treat the Mexicans with the same respect that i would like to be treated with and we have made some good freinds down here. Like any city anywhere in the world, there are certain parts of the city that are not good areas and all you have to do is avoid them( do your homework). I love being down in Mexico and always will come every year for a couple of months. Most Mexicans are very hard working people, sure there are some that are trouble makers, but that is the case in every city in the world.
Posted by: Wayne | Jan 21, 2022 10:55:08 AM
Like other posters here,we have been to puerto vallarta & no problems. We've talked to folks that have been there numerous times + Canadians who winter there & own businesses there & its safe. The Mexicans are very nice & seem to like Canadians. On both our visits(there in Dec'10) we used the local buses to go to outlying villiages & no problems. We would not go to any spots near the US border. Don't pre-judge from some of the comments here--Puerto Vallarta is fine.
Posted by: malcolm | Jan 21, 2022 11:06:08 AM
No more Mexico for me. My wife and I can go elsewhere until this mess in Mexico is cleaned up.
Posted by: B | Jan 21, 2022 11:07:17 AM
Does the name clifford olsen mean anything to ya hu wow i mean wow should people stay away from canada we have a couple serial killers here.im sure we have more than one rape in our country every year and oh ya a couple of shottings.maybe we should all stop living in our little bubble and open our eyes we arnt that safe here either.
Posted by: Drew | Jan 21, 2022 11:08:51 AM
I have been to Mexico 3 times. I have been extorted by the police, and for that i will not go back. For the people who say Mexico is safe and our own country can be just as bad, they just found 15 headless bodies in acapulco, headless bodies hanging from bridges, rape and extortion on tourists, and 30,000 people murdered in the last 4 years. Give your head a shake. STAY AWAY FROM MEXICO
Posted by: learn from past mistakes | Jan 21, 2022 11:13:51 AM
I guess Mexico is a great place unless you happen to be one of the tourists who collects a bullet,gets raped, or has to pay off a cop. If you are on of these unfortunate peope maybe your opinion of the place changes. For the other 99.9% it's just fine.
Hey Carl, I've never heard of 14 people being found with thier heads cut off in Canada or police officers and elected officials being systematically executed day after day. I also haven't heard of any tourists in Banff or Peggys Cove, (or Vancouver or Toronto for that matter) ever being sprayed with machine gun fire lately. So don't try and push any BS that crime in any part of Canada is comparable in any way to what is happening in Mexico.
Once again, why not just go somewhere else...
Posted by: Ashamed | Jan 21, 2022 11:16:01 AM
Let me get this right... The Mexican Bashers, for the past few years have been trying to convince people not to go to Mexico untill the authorities 'clean up their act' and start to make Mexico a safer place for tourists, right? So, two years ago the President of Mexico declares a 'war on drugs' to make Mexico a safer place in the future. After two years and many dead and many suffering from the effects it has had on the tourism industry, it seems that they are doing a good job (20 out of the 37 most wanted criminals in Mexico are now locked up or dead!). So, Mexico is doing the right thing and confronting organized crime to appease the requests the international community has been asking for and what do they do to return the favor? Kick the Mexican Tourism Industry when it's down!!! What is THAT saying to the average Joe Waiter or Jane Hotel worker who just lost their jobs because of the lack of tourism? I imagine they feel that they have been betrayed by the Canadians and Americans who they are trying to please and that maybe this whole 'war on drugs' isn't in their best interest and now that they are in need of a job and there not being any available in the tourism industry due to the lack of tourists, they may just give up trying to please us tourists and turn to the dark side to look for work, seeing that as a sure thing as compared to continuing to ride on the rollercoaster ups and downs of the embattled tourism industry.
Mexico has been a tourist destination for foreign visitors for over 60 years. They are expecting tourists to always come back to enjoy the infrastructure they have built to accomodate us in the tourist areas. What happens when all of the tourist friendly businesses shut down due to a lack of tourism? I imagine there will be a huge push to immigrate North to Canada! I hope the whiners have thought about that just a little before they completely destroy one of Mexico's biggest industries. I think we should support the fact that they are sacrificing their livelyhoods in order to make Mexico a safer place for us 'the tourists', instead of punishing them for doing what we ask of them.
Seeing most of the comments by Canadians on the internet concerning Mexico, I am almost ready to change the Canadian flag on my backpack for an American one! Shame on all of you closet racists and cowards (most of whom I imagine have never been nor ever wanted to go to Mexico in the first place!) all hiding behing the security of their computer screens, taking pot shots at a country which they could truly not care less about!
Posted by: Wayne | Jan 21, 2022 11:16:20 AM
On Jan.19-11 the CBC reported that the number of assaults against tourists in Mexico was very similar to other Carribean countries (per 100,000 tourists). Because of the violent drug wars in Mexico, the tourist incidents there are getting more media coverage. There are plenty of incidents in other tourist destinations that we never hear about. See my 10:55 AM post.