U.S. State Dept. issues travel warning for Mexico violence

The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory for Mexico that includes two popular resort destinations following violence and criminal activity in the country.

The department has issued the travel advisory for areas including Baja California Sur, the state where Cabo San Lucas is located, and Quintana Roo, which is home to several other tourist destinations, The Hill reported.

The advisory said that Quintana Roo has seen a climb in homicide rates.

"While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted criminal organization assassinations, turf battles between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens," the advisor said, referencing the Mexican state that includes Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum and Riviera Maya, The Hill reported.

"Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured or killed, have occurred."

The State Department further said that the Baja California Sur has dealt with a high rate of homicides.

The department did not issue the "defer non-essential travel" warning to Baja California Sur or Quintana Roo, contrasting to other areas in Mexico that have received the warning.

"There is no evidence that criminal organizations have targeted U.S. citizens based on their nationality," the advisory said. "Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the level of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.