Despite the travel warnings issued by the U.S. Department of State, some UTEP students will spend their spring break on the warm beaches of Mexico.

"I don't think there is any better place to spend my spring break than Mexico," said senior computer information systems major Monica Flores. "Even though many warnings have been made for tourists, my friends and I know the country well, and this year we are going to Puerto Vallarta."

The U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning statement in September 2010 informing U.S. citizens about the security situation in Mexico and the country's narcotics-related violence, more specifically in the state of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez.

However, Mexican authorities said that tourism rates have not declined substantially.

"The violent situation going on in the northern part of the country is of special concern, however, the general tourism rates in Mexico have only declined about 10 percent over the past year," said Claudia Villanueva, director of the Chihuahua Department of Tourism. "Overall, it remains strong, even in Chihuahua, where more than 200,000 international tourists visited last year."

Villanueva also said this 10 percent decline in tourism has been the product of the global economic crisis, the country's drug-related violence and the natural events that have affected some international destinations' destinies.

Yet, despite these circumstances, international students continue to visit the country's most attractive sites during spring break.

"The Mexican beaches continue to be the central attraction for spring breakers traveling to Mexico," said Mayela Cornejo, director of the Macaro Travel Agency in Juárez. "Cancun, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco are some of the most sought-after spring break locations. Right now, almost every hotel in Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta is sold out for that week."

While many spring breakers will flood the Mexican beaches in the days to come, no special security measures will be implemented by Mexican authorities.

According to the Puerto Vallarta local police department, no specific security operations will be implemented during the spring break week, continuing with their normal schedule.

Despite these conditions, some students believe traveling to Mexico during spring break is worth it.

"Personally, I believe that the violence in Mexico is occurring in certain conflicting areas. However, I feel there are safe places to visit, especially during spring break and other vacation seasons," said senior communication studies major Marcela Aguirre. "This year I am going to spend my spring break in Cancun, which I feel is a highly touristic site and a safe place to go compared to other areas of the country."

Diana Arrieta may be reached at prospector(at)utep.edu.