bajalera - 10-10-2006 at 10:06 AM
I recently cam across an interesting billingual publication, Proceedings from the First International Conference on the Relationship Between Tourism
and the Environment of the Baja California Peninsula, which covered meetings held in Ensenada, October 22-24, 1973, shortly after the completion of
the highway.
The 150 or so attendees were about equally divided between Mexicans and Americans, and included scientists, travel people, media peoople, and
government officials--along with 30 students from the School of Tourism of the Autonomoous University of Baja California. [The only Gringo name I
recognized was Walt Wheelock.]
The governor of BC opened by saying he had noticed that at meetings held in the U.S., speakers always opened with a joke. His joke was that the
general objection to the highway he had heard from Norteamericanos who enjoy visiting the peninsula was that a good road would bring too many other
tourists from the U.S.
Here's a quote from the booklet:
"The working group ahieved a consensus of opinion on the follower matters:
"It would be advisable to have each driver complete and file at the point of entry a Travel Plan, listing destination, names of passengers, estimated
date of return, vehicle information, and purpose of the trip . . . .
"Consideration should be given to charging reasonable fees for information and service to all road users. These fees should become mandatory if this
can be done lawfully. The services should include search and rescue, radio and telephone communication, visual identification of registration such as
a distinctive plaque or decal to serve as a status symbol of having made the trip on the new Baja California highway.
"All regulations should apply uniformly to nationals of all countries, including Mexico."
So what do Nomads think of this agreement?
Bruce R Leech - 10-10-2006 at 11:48 AM
sounds kind of old fashioned. I don't think it would have worked then and I don't think it would work now. but it is very interesting.
David K - 10-10-2006 at 09:00 PM
Taxes don't solve anything... just hurt the people.
The highway was NOT finished in October... another month was needed. Innaugerated on Dec. 1 on the 28th parallel.
I was on it in July, 1973 and pavement ended near El Progreso southbound and didn't begin in full until Villa Jesus Maria area.