Warning to Mexico travellers over violent Uber protests in Cancun

Drivers protesting the ride-hailing service have forced some tourists to walk or ride with police to get their flights out of Cancun. Photo / Viktor Avdeev, Unsplash

The US State Department issued a travel advisory for Mexico’s resort-studded Caribbean coast Monday after medallion taxi drivers started harassing and attacking drivers from the ride-hailing app Uber and their clients.

Taxi drivers even blocked one of the main roads leading to the hotel district in the resort of Cancun Monday. That forced some tourists to walk or catch rides in police pickups to get their flights out, or check in.

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.”

The Cancun police department shared photos of travelers getting into the bed of police trucks, and said “given the blockades on the Kukulcan boulevard, our transit officers helped people get to the airport.”

Cancun Mayor called on the taxi drivers — who were angered by the competition from Uber 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 said in a taped message.

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.

“It is illegal, illegal,” a taxi driver can be heard shouting at one family of tourists.

In fact, ride-hailing apps had been blocked in Cancun until earlier this month, when a court granted an injunction allowing Uber to operate.

Given the high cost of local medallion taxis in Cancun, many travelers prefer to use apps.

Some Cancun residents also posted videos or photos of taxis encircling suspected ride-hailing cars, and one man said he was just giving a ride to some people when his car was pelted with stones and dented by taxi drivers.

New Zealand’s MFAT has not updated its safe travel advice but warns that protests are not uncommon and have the potential to disrupt travel.

Travellers are also warned that participation in protests by foreign nationals is prohibited by The Mexican Constitution and may result in detention or deportation.

“New Zealanders are advised to avoid any areas where demonstrations and protests are taking place as they have the potential to turn violent with little warning. Follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media,” reads the official MFAT advisory.

- Associated Press with additional reporting