Global Affairs Canada is advising Canadians in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara to proceed to airports only if they have a confirmed flight and if it is deemed safe to travel, following recent violence across Mexico. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that the situation in Mexico is gradually stabilizing, with varying degrees of volatility and instability across the country. Canadians remaining in Mexico are urged to heed the guidance of local authorities.
A government news release in Jalisco state has announced the resumption of economic activities, including the reopening of self-service stores, convenience stores, wholesale markets, banking institutions, and intercity transport routes. Subsequent to the death of a prominent cartel leader in a government operation, violent incidents occurred, prompting shelter-in-place advisories in various regions and flight cancellations by Canadian airlines.
Global Affairs Canada continues to caution individuals in Mexico to exercise heightened caution and to avoid non-essential travel in several states due to the potential rapid deterioration of the security situation countrywide. Despite the absence of significant security incidents on February 23, GAC emphasized the possibility of further incidents in various locations. While airports in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara have resumed operations, shelter-in-place orders persist in Jalisco and Nayarit.
Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, and Porter are set to recommence scheduled flights on Tuesday, with Flair resuming service on Wednesday. An estimated 55,000 Canadians in Mexico have registered with GAC as of Tuesday. Observers in Nuevo Vallarta report a return to normalcy, with grocery stores and markets reopening, albeit with certain restrictions.
The Jalisco government has ramped up monitoring of land routes to ensure the safe return of individuals who were previously sheltered in vacation spots. Efforts are underway in Puerto Vallarta to reinstate public transportation services and essential supplies. However, Jalisco remains on high alert, pending a government decision on the current situation.