Canadian flights resumed this past week after the violent events that occurred in the early hours of last weekend in Mexican cities such as Puerto Vallarta.
The resort city along the Pacific Ocean started to reopen this past week after days of violence and unrest sparked by the killing of a Mexican cartel boss.
Canadian travellers, however, remain anxious about visiting Mexico, while some are still trying to get home.
Calm returns by caution urged
On Tuesday, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, in a press release, predicted Mexico would become more stable in the following days.
Yet Anand urged Canadian travellers to continue to use caution.
“The situation remains fluid,” she said. “I want to assure Canadians that we’re leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we’re providing the most accurate advice possible.”
Global Affairs Canada still advises Canadian travellers to avoid non-essential travel in key regions and exercise a high degree of caution throughout the whole country.
This has left some security experts urging Canadians to reconsider travelling to Mexico.
“Yes, it is safe for Canadians to return to Mexico,” said Amelia Kiddle, a professor at the University of Calgary who specializes in the political history of Mexican foreign relations. “Although this may negatively affect some tourists’ perception of safety.”
Kiddle suggests that the recent violence shouldn’t deter from a closer collaboration between the two nations.
“Canada and Mexico are partners, and our relations are growing,” she added.
Canadians witness violence in Mexico
Kiara McQuaker-MacDonald saw smoke billowing from the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta after the violence erupted last Sunday.
The group of six included five adults and one child.
The family had return flights home to Cochrane booked for the next day.
But, airlines cancelled flights due to the ongoing civil unrest.
“At day nine, I was ready to come home. Now we’re almost at two weeks,” she said.
Frustrating experience booking flights out of Mexico
McQuaker-MacDonald added that airlines have been giving her the run-around.
Confirmation or rebooking information has well exceeded the 48-hour communication promise.
The informationshe gets varies depending on the representative she is speaking with.
“Nobody had reached out to us,” she said. “We’re seeing upwards of $12,000, $20,000, 21-hour flights, 36-hour-long flights, and it’s just been a complete nightmare.”
On Tuesday, Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat publicly announced that they would resume flights and bring stranded travellers back to Canada.
Three adults in the group are on medications for heart conditions, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
McQuaker-MacDonald says these medications have “essentially run out.”
The family has been working with local and Canadian pharmacies to receive the necessary paperwork for the medications.
The family is expected to fly out of Mexico today or tomorrow.
Global Affairs reminds Canadians planning trips south of the border to stay informed, remain cautious, and prepare for potential disruptions as the situation continues to develop.