Spike in homicides at resorts, motels raises considerations for Albuquerque tourism business

“And that’s something he wants to do, but unfortunately he doesn’t have the manpower to do it right now,” he added.

Since Friday, APD has been investigating at least three separate hotel or motel shootings.

One of the shootings was declared a murder. The other two left the victims in critical condition.

However, according to Gallegos, any of the victims are not expected to survive in critical condition.

Vaidya said the city’s crime rate could have a negative impact on visitors.

“It’s escalated and I’ve been trying to preach this to our leaderships for years,” he said.

“The perception that Albuquerque has initiated across the country is that this is not a safe place to come to visit or just to spend the night,” added Vaidya.

Gallegos did not respond to KOB’s request for an interview with APD officials.

However, Medina previously mentioned an increase in drug dealers as the reason for the Spike murders. Gallegos also mentioned that the city is launching other anti-crime initiatives.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller previously announced plans to boost the city’s tourism industry recovery from COVID by donating $ 1.5 million to the tourism industry.

Vaidya says some of this money should be used to secure local hotels and motels.

“We asked for it,” said Vaidya.

“We actually said there was a 1 percent tax in Albuquerque that was specifically for hotels, and we said we could take parts of that or even increase that to 1 ½ percent, maybe 2 percent and that money specially used for tourist accommodation so that we have a safer environment and can have a better reputation across the country. “

In total, there were 35 murders in 2021, almost twice as many as there were in the past two years at that time.