State Dept. Issues Cancun Travel Warning After Uber Drivers, Passengers Attacked by Taxi Drivers

The U.S. State Department has issued an advisory to tourists in tourist-friendly areas. Mexico’s Caribbean coast During clashes between Uber riders and taxi drivers.

The warning comes after medallion taxi drivers in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, home to Cancun and other popular tourist areas on the Yucatán Peninsula, have been harassing and attacking drivers and passengers in Uber vehicles due to frustrations over the competition that the ride-share service provides.

Taxi drivers even blocked a main road leading to Cancun’s hotel district on Monday. Some tourists had to choose to walk or ride in the police pickups to the airport.

The State Department advised travelers That “past disputes between these services and local taxi unions have occasionally turned violent, resulting in injuries to U.S. citizens in some instances.”

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Taxi drivers pass a sign that says, “We are fighting for the rights of the taxi drivers,” During a protest to the regulation of taxi-hailing app such as Uber in Cancun Mexico on January 11, 2023.
(Reuters / Paola Chiomante)

Social media sites have been full over the last two days of videos showing tourists being berated — and in one case, apparently manhandled — by groups of several uniformed taxi drivers.

The Cancun police department Sharing photos of travellers getting in the back of police trucks. “given the blockades on the Kukulcan boulevard, our transit officers helped people get to the airport.”

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Taxi drivers protest the regulation of taxi-hailing apps like Uber in Cancun (Mexico) on January 11, 2023.
(Reuters / Paola Chiomante)

Cancun’s mayor has called on the taxi drivers to show restraint.

“I am not going to allow a small group to damage the reputation of the resort and human safety,” Mayor Ana Patricia Peralta spoke in a taped message.

A Jan. 11 court decision that permits Uber to operate without a taxi license, angered the Taxi Union (about 12,000 Cancun members). Mexico News Daily reported.

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Cancun beach
(iStock)

Fox News Digital was informed by an Uber spokesperson that this warning pertains to Cancun. The State Department has repeatedly mentioned Uber as a safer alternative to the country.

“Uber is deeply committed to safety around the world, and we have teams in the U.S. and Mexico dedicated to working with police and providing 24/7 support through the Uber app for riders and drivers,” The spokesperson stated.

After the State Department has issued a security alert, issued travel advisories Due to concerns about crime, there are dozens of Mexican states with this problem. “Do Not Travel” Advisories to the States of Zacatecas (Gerro), Guerrero, Colima, and Others

This report was compiled by the Associated Press.