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The US State Department issued a travel warning to Mexico's Caribbean resort towns amid clashes between disgruntled taxi drivers and Uber customers and drivers.
The warning came after taxi drivers in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun and other popular tourist destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula, harassed and attacked Uber drivers and riders because they were unhappy with the competition created by the car-sharing service. .
On Monday, taxi drivers even blocked one of the main roads leading to the hotel area of the Cancun resort. This forced some tourists to get in or walk to the police vans to get in or check in.
The State Department warned travelers that "past disputes between these services and local taxi unions have sometimes resulted in violence and, in some cases, injury to U.S. citizens."
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© Reuters/Paola Chiomante Taxi drivers walk past a sign reading "We fight for the rights of taxi drivers" during a protest against the regulation of taxi apps such as Uber in Cancun, Mexico, January 11, 2023. Reuters/Paola Chiomante
Over the past two days, videos have been circulating on social media showing tourists being scolded and, in one case, being beaten up by groups of different uniformed taxi drivers.
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The Cancun Police Department shared photos of travelers getting into the back of police trucks and said, "After blocking Kukulkan Boulevard, our traffic police officers helped people get to the airport."
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© Reuters/Paola Chiomante Taxi drivers protest against the regulation of taxi apps such as Uber in Cancun, Mexico, January 11, 2023. Reuters/Paola Chiomante
The mayor of Cancun urged taxi drivers to be careful.
"I will not allow a small group to damage the reputation of the resort and the safety of the people," Mayor Ana Patricia Peralta said in a recorded message.
Mexico News Daily reported that the Taxi Union, which represents about 12,000 members in Cancun, was outraged by a January 11 court decision that allowed Uber to operate without a public transport license required for taxis.
© iStock Cancun beach in summer. iStock
Uber did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The safety advisory was issued after the State Department issued travel advisories in dozens of Mexican states due to crime concerns, including travel ban notices for Zacatecas, Guerrero, Colima and other states.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
