Parents fret about students' spring break plans

By Mary Jo Layton

The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

(MCT)

HACKENSACK, N.J. _ Recent travel alerts warning U.S. citizens of increasing violence in Mexico are causing parents to question their children's trips to Cancun and other spring break meccas, several North Jersey travel agents said Thursday.

"It's scaring the parents for sure," said Karen Essafi, owner of E. Clarke Travel in Fort Lee.

Alex Fu, an NYU student, opted out of a trip to Mexico with friends, in part because his parents were worried.

"They heard of the violence and drug wars and they didn't want me to go," said Fu, a senior .

But few other college students are canceling after they are assured that resorts are safe _ and 2,000 miles from the Mexican border, where the violence is greatest.

"All the problems are in the border towns," Essafi said.

The death of a Montclair State University sophomore in a boating accident in the Dominican Republic this week is also causing parents to take a second look at international travel for spring break _ or at least to issue strong warnings to teens. The family of Kate Russell, 20, received word of her death Monday and is awaiting more information.

The news comes shortly after the U.S. Department of State issued warnings about travel to Mexico, where drug cartels are waging violent battles for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. More than 1,800 people have been killed in one northern city. Although most of the violence is at the border, the alert said tourists traveling throughout Mexico "should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas."

Liberty Travel, which books a half-million visitors to Mexico each year, has experienced "minor cancellations, nothing major" said Colette Baruth, a vice president overseeing Mexico and Latin America for the company.

Baruth said the warnings have been misinterpreted. "People believe armed soldiers are protecting Cancun resorts. It's not true."

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In 2008, 22.6 million international travelers visited Mexico, making it the 10th most popular tourist destination in the world, she said.

For college students, the allure of a cheap beach getaway continues to draw many travelers. "I've looked at Facebook and people are messaging from Cancun," said Krista Stacy, a Montclair State University senior. "It's not stopping anybody."

Karen Rivera, editor-in-chief of the Ramapo College newspaper, said some students are traveling despite parental concerns.

"A lot of them are going ahead," she said.

Fu's friends returned from a five-day trip to Cancun Thursday and reported "nothing bad happened," Fu said.

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