Fewer Springbreakers Traveling to Cancun

The arrival of teen students who like spending their spring vacations in Cancun -known locally as springbreakers- dropped 50 percent this year regardless of heightened measures taken by Mexican authorities in this Caribbean beach circuit to keep their naughty behavior at bay.

"The arrival (of springbreakers) dipped 50 percent this year. Back in 2001, some 100,000 students swarmed over Cancun, yet this time around we´ve only counted some 45,000. Higher hotel fares are mostly to blame for this plunge," Tourism Undersecretary Dario Flores explained.

Springbreakers are notorious for their unfettered behavior that includes playing havoc with hotel rooms, getting dead drunk and having sexual intercourse in public.

Therefore, Mexican authorities dish out brochures among American travelers asking them to behave properly and warning about possible legal actions if they indulge themselves in misconduct. Insulting police officer, having hard drinks in public or doing and selling drugs are some of the commonest offenses.

"Be smart. Your could get indicted in Mexico for breaking the law if you´re 16 years of age or older and therefore be tried as a adult. Minimum age limit for drinking alcoholic beverages is 18 years," reads a brochure printed in English, French, Italian and German that also suggests travelers to keep their passports, visas and plane tickets in a safe place.

The spring season kicked off in late February and stretches to the end of April. Groups of American students usually come to Cancun for six days and pack beaches, restaurants and disco clubs.

Cancun Mayor Ignacio Garcia informed he has already signed an operative surveillance decree that brings together cooperation efforts from all police departments, including state, federal and local law enforcement agencies.