You can’t ignore the reports of violence in Acapulco. But you should get all the facts. Earlier this year, Alonzo Peña, U.S. Department of Homeland Security attaché to Mexico, explained, “Violence in Mexico is not as dangerous to U.S. tourists as has been portrayed. The violence is in isolated areas of the country and only affects the people involved in criminal activity.” In Acapulco, violence has not been reported in the primary tourist areas—Acapulco Diamante and the Golden Zone, or Zona Dorada—but rather in areas that were popular with U.S. tourists in the 1950s and are now primarily residential.

City, state, and federal government offices throughout Mexico are working to improve security measures and emergency services to safeguard both tourists and residents, according to the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office, which recently released a document designed to ease fears among U.S. and Canadian travelers about visiting Acapulco. “The local government in Acapulco continues to work in conjunction with state and federal authorities to increase the city’s resources in order to ensure that all tourist areas within Acapulco remain safe, well-lit, and clean, in accordance with new safety measures that went into effect throughout the city in March 2009,” the document states.

The best way for planners to get complete information regarding where violence is occurring is to visit the Department of State Web site, where travel advisories are posted.

New developments in Acapulco include the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, W Las Brisas Hotel, and Grupo Habita’s Boca Chica. Meanwhile, the freshly renovated Port of Acapulco Terminal implemented increased security measures in April.

For up-to-date destination information, visit Acapulco’s official Web site.