Violence unsettles spring breakers in Acapulco
>> tibbles in fargo , thanks.
>>> the drug war this mexico reached a new level of violence with the murder of an american couple in juarez over the weekend. mexico 's president paid a visit to that city today. a big goal for mexico now is to make sure american parents know their kids will be safe in that country during this spring break season, for a lucky few. kerry sanders is in acapulco . kerry, good evening.
>> reporter: good evening, brian. spring breakers who are coming here to acapulco are being encouraged to party in just one block of the beach where there is a heavy armed police presence, which students say is at once both frightening and re-ensuring as all are keenly aware of mexico 's growing drug violence. spring break in acapulco as american students line up outside night clubs , but there is a dark side to the scene this year as rival mexican drug cartels fight for control as the city known as the pacific jewel. since the weekend, at least 19 people have been murdered in acapulco , including two men last night three miles from where most spring breakers are staying. this man says it's unsettling. what do you think?
>> it's dangerous, guess. it's not that safe. so far, my experience, nothing bad happened to me.
>> reporter: keith from new york says he is not nervous, but is trying to remain street smart .
>> i wouldn't go into town where these people got killed. you want to be in a tourist area .
>> reporter: parents in the united states have been urging their children to change spring break plans and avoid mexico .
>> my mother almost stopped me from coming. she was nervous.
>> reporter: a survey by sta travel found only 10% of those polled planned to come to mexico this year. half of last year's turnout. with mtv hosting its annual spring break bash here this weak, acapulco expects as many as 10,000 students. with renewed violence, several american universities , including the university of southern california have issued travel advisories, warning students about coming to mexico . shirley, a ucla student says she is still going to mexico for spring break , but not acapulco .
>> i am personally concerned, but my friends made fun of me. they told me it's not really a big deal .
>> reporter: and that's a little college peer pressure . local authorities say if she follows through and stays with her friends , travels in groups and they do not go beyond the cordoned off area here, she and everybody else who comes to mexico should be safe. brian?
>> kerry sanders in acapulco , thanks for that.
