Swine flu deals another blow to Mexico's tourism industry.

Julie and I spend a lot of time promoting travel in Mexico to friends and family, and reassuring them that the country is a relatively safe place to visit. It's not an easy task, especially with all of the recent press about narco violence.

Now the swine flu epidemic is dealing the newest blow to the Mexico travel PR machine. The United States, the EU and Hong Kong have issued travel warnings, encouraging their residents to avoid travel to Mexico. Other countries are most likely following suit. And for sure, if this flu does become a pandemic, Mexico won't be the only country in the spotlight.

There's always a risk in travel, whether you're visiting the remote regions of the Amazon or driving to Anaheim to see the big mouse. I believe that as long as you stay informed you can minimize your risks:

Read up on the current U.S. Department of State travel alerts.

Visit forums about travel in Mexico and post questions about the regions you plan to visit. The forum at MEXonline.com is a good place to start. Another good one is Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree.

And of course, don't skimp on common sense.

I'm sure Mexico will eventually recover from this double whammy against their economy, but unfortunately it may take some time to rebuild their reputation as a fantastic travel destination.