American comedian and television host Joe Rogan expressed
his concern about the violence associated with drug cartels in Mexico, warning
that the problem could have serious economic repercussions, especially for the
tourism sector.
During a conversation on his show, Rogan pointed out that
the international perception of insecurity could discourage millions of
potential visitors. He commented that the scale of the clashes and violent
incidents projects an alarming image abroad. “This is very damaging to tourism.
It's going to cost Mexico billions of dollars,” he stated, comparing the
situation to a scenario in which “half the city is on fire.”
The commentator also maintained that tourism represents one
of the country's main sources of income, so any decline in traveler confidence
could translate into cancellations, lower hotel occupancy, and negative impacts
on sectors such as restaurants, transportation, and services.
While his statements generated debate on social media, the
issue of drug-related violence continues to be a challenge for different
regions of the country, where federal and state authorities maintain operations
to contain the activity of criminal groups and preserve economic stability.