( CNN ) -- A top Mexican official says Mexico 's drug policy is not a `` war '' against drug cartels , but a comprehensive strategy of the federal government to dismantle criminal organizations while at the same time strengthening institutions . In a blog published by the Office of Mexican President Felipe Calderon , National Security Spokesman Alejandro Poire says the main objectives of the Mexican national security strategy are to strengthen the rule of law and reduce crime . `` This is not 'the government 's war against drugs , ' but the fight of all Mexicans to build an authentic security , based on the rule of law and justice , '' Poire said . President Felipe Calderon 's drug policy has come under scrutiny as violence increases . The Mexican government 's estimate indicates more than 35,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Calderon took office in December 2006 for a six-year term . Critics in Mexico and abroad have repeatedly said it is time for the Mexican government to reassess its hard-line drug strategy , because it has become counterproductive . Poire , who recently spoke on the issue of drug violence in Mexico at Harvard University in Boston , addressed the criticism on his blog . `` A policy of omission , simulation , or even worse , of negotiation ( with the cartels ] ) would have been negligent and criminal , '' Poire said . `` It would have postponed the effort to seek solutions much longer and left the population at the mercy of organized crime . '' His comments were published six days after the U.S. Department of State broadened its travel warning for Mexico , advising American citizens to avoid certain areas and steer clear of driving at night . The advisory singles out 11 Mexican states , including border states like Sonora , Chihuahua and Tamaulipas . The warning issued Friday strongly urges Americans to `` travel only during daylight hours throughout Mexico , to avoid isolated roads and to use toll roads whenever possible . '' It also notes , `` There 's no evidence that U.S. tourists have been targeted by criminal elements due to their citizenship . '' According to the U.S. State Department , 150,000 Americans cross the border into Mexico every day for study , tourism or business and at least 1 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico . In a recent interview with CNN , a top Mexican tourism official said that in spite of the violence , tourism in Mexico last year was `` very robust . '' Rodolfo Lopez Negrete , chief operating officer of the Mexico Tourism Bureau , said , `` Major tourism destinations that we have in Mexico , whether you refer to sun-and-beach resorts or inland destinations , those are perfectly safe . '' Lopez Negrete said violence mostly occurs in `` border towns with the United States , in the northeastern section of our country . '' However , violence in the beach resort of Acapulco has dramatically increased in the last three years . According to the Acapulco morgue , there were 1,010 violent deaths in the Pacific coastal city in 2010 .
Fight aims to dismantle drug cartels , strengthen institutions , official says . Alejandro Poire says in blog the goal is to strengthen the rule of law and reduce crime . Mexico estimates 35,000 people have died in drug-related violence since December 2006 .