BajaNomad

Mexico Travel Warning in Perspective by Baja Insider

Gypsy Jan - 2-25-2008 at 02:45 PM

From bajainsider.com -

The Motivation for Misinformation
There are certain publications that seem to be beating the anti-Baja drum, not the least of which being the San Diego Union Tribune. From quashing press releases from Mexican government offices working to improve the situation to rehashing and rewording stories that are months old, there would appear to be a concerted effort to give Baja a black eye. Every time the issue seems to fade from the headlines these certain publications bring it to the forefront again.

Why? Perhaps it is because billions of dollars are at stake. The Baja Real Estate investment flood must be hurting someone's pocket book. Could it be that those SoCal real estate interests which make up a huge portion of these publications revenue are applying pressure to keep spending at home?

The pressure may be coming from even a higher level. A few years back the US administration used similar anti-tourism tactics to pressure Mexico into selling additional crude oil to the US at prices set nearly a decade before. Tourism and foreign investment are critical in the continued growth of Mexico and both are heavily dependant on public perceptions to flourish. The answer may be as simple as to keeping every US travel dollar at home – to support a floundering US economy.

Looking at the Facts
The "Excerpts from the "US Department of State" contain the portions of the Mexico Travel Alert that apply to travelers of the Baja peninsula. Since September, 2007 there have been a significant number of stories in the US press regarding incidents involving Mexican travelers, particularly in Baja California ('norte' for the rookies) and that the government is ambivalent or even complicit in these attacks. Surf tours and even the Baja 1000 have expressed concern about returning to Baja. It is important to put these events in perspective and to acknowledge the fact that government response has not only been immediate, but significant. Neither is it our intent to minimize the precautions travelers to Mexico should exercise to protect themselves and enjoy a fun and safe Mexican experience.

Taking precautions when traveling in Mexico
When traveling in Mexico as a whole and particularly in the border areas tourist should take reasonable precautions. Stay in well traveled areas, avoid driving at night and traveling alone. Do not seek out the most remote camping location or surf beach. Keep your wits, public drunkenness has long been a popular past time for gringos in Tijuana. .

Don't carry all your money and credit cards in one place. Put a believable amount cash in your wallet and secure the rest and your credit cards elsewhere. Tourists should avoid standing out by apparel, behavior or the flash of cash.

North Americans tend to be a bit naive in foreign travel. We enjoy our secure infrastructure and abundant policing at home and fail to anticipate that the same resources don't exist in all countries. You need to be more keenly aware of events around you when traveling in foreign countries – lets face it, Americans stick out... and not always in a good way.

Doing the Math
From September to November, 2007 14 attacks were reported on tourists in the border region. During the same time period there were 27 tourist attacks in California State Parks.

A recent press report sited that more Americans were arrested by Tijuana police than in any other foreign destination city. Of course! Tijuana was the #1 foreign city visited by Americans, simply because of the ease of it. More than 60 million persons crossed the border into Baja California last year. That is more than 1500 times more than the number who visited London.

In 2007 352 people were murdered in greater Tijuana. However, compared to US cities of about the same population, Tijuana falls in the 'also ran' category with 17.5 murders per 100,000 people. A great number of US cities have higher murder rates; like Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas and the winner (loser) New Orleans with more than 3 times the murder rate of Tijuana. Yet there is no travel warning for these cities?

30 of the murders in the region involved government anti-drug officials and police. These numbers and gruesome methods horrify Americans - but this is a war. Most of these were new federal officials sent to clean things up. There were others who's allegiance to which side was in question.

Like in the rest of Mexico, kidnapping in Baja California increased last year. Twenty six US residents were abducted in the border area last year. Again, looking at the huge numbers of happy Baja visitors, that is half the number of people struck by lightening in the US last year!

Kidnappings for cash of foreigners is rare, as they have no idea what you are worth on face value. Two real estate representatives that were recently rescued by Mexican authorities were abducted by a very amateurish crew that failed to remove the license plates from the abduction vehicle, resulting in the arrest and rescue. These kidnappings are not the work of 'trained paramilitary groups' as some press reports would have you believe.

The violence against US border agents makes prompt and colorful headlines in the US press. Rather, this should have been anticipated, when you squeeze a profitable business like the drug cartels which are, supported by American dollars, the bad guys are likely to push back. In looking at the statistics, there was no evidence that ANY innocent US citizen had been randomly killed in drug violence.

What is being done...
Make no mistake, the government of Mexico is well aware of the importance of US investment and tourist dollars in the development of Baja. Within days of the tragic events of November, the federal government began moving as many as 2000 troops to the region to combat the drug violence and corruption. Nearly half a million dollars was allocated to fund anti crime work in December alone.

The Mexicans of the region have shown they are tired of the cloud of violence impeding their growth and prosperity. Two new mayors elected in the region had combating the crime issue as major platform planks. Rosarito's recently elected Mayor HugoTorres has appeared several times on San Diego television to outline the steps that are being taken to make Baja travel safer and more enjoyable.

Patrols have been increased dramatically in the tourist regions of Tijuana, Rosario Beach and Ensenada.
Military checkpoints now check southbound vehicles as well as those headed north.
Several arrests have been made since November associated with the highway robberies of tourists.
Several arrests have been made in recent weeks involving those suspected of kidnapping two American real estate representatives.
There has been no evidence that links any current member of Mexican law enforcement to any of the violent incidents against tourists..
There has not been one additional incident reported in Baja California since late November.

Travel safely, use your head and enjoy the warmth of the Baja sun and the people of this amazing peninsula. As the real numbers show, the odds of a successful and pleasant stay in Baja is overwhelming favorite.

Excellent Report

The Gull - 2-25-2008 at 03:08 PM

...and it didn't require a quote from Mike Overcast.

DanO - 2-25-2008 at 03:10 PM

Time to start worrying about how to avoid getting struck by lightning.

The Gull - 2-25-2008 at 03:11 PM

Right after worrying about how I might win the California Lotto.

cbuzzetti - 2-25-2008 at 03:19 PM

Are you sure you want all those drunk and obnoxious gringos back in Baja Norte?
Well I guess as long as they dont go any further south than Ensenada. ;-)

Hook - 2-25-2008 at 03:28 PM

I guess this was all just a bad dream concocted by the media, huh?

BAD, BAD SAN DIEGO MEDIA !!! WHAT A BLATANT CONFLICT OF INTEREST !!!!

Hey, it cuts both ways. For years, there was no mention of all the crime we all knew was going on. Pendulum's swing.

Of course, Baja Insider has NO financial interests in seeing tourists and ex-pats return :lol:

I loved where they compared the number of persons hit by lightning in a country of 300 million to the number of REPORTED kidnappings in a city of 1 million.

Who knew !!!!!!!!???????

Mexico is making changes because things got REALLY bad. Holding their collective economic feet to the fire is showing results.

The media are to be commended for FINALLY reporting some of this, even if they do tend to rehash the same incidents over and over.

The Gull - 2-25-2008 at 04:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cbuzzetti
Are you sure you want all those drunk and obnoxious gringos back in Baja Norte?
Well I guess as long as they dont go any further south than Ensenada. ;-)


Actually no, it is really nice down here, right now. So family people and nice US visitors can enjoy a visit right now.

There are some US citizens who didn't leave during the crime events and whoever wants to take them back to the US, pleeeeze do it, quickly, they are giving the few Gringos down here a bad name.

conquestkm - 2-25-2008 at 04:45 PM

Gee, all that I can say is if its not the right place for you .Please do us all a favor and leave . We won't be mad

surfer jim - 2-25-2008 at 04:59 PM

Maybe the author of that article should join the band that just lost a member......:o

DENNIS - 2-25-2008 at 06:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by conquestkm
Gee, all that I can say is if its not the right place for you .Please do us all a favor and leave . We won't be mad


Who and where are you?

DENNIS - 2-25-2008 at 06:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by The Gull

Actually no, it is really nice down here, right now.


Actually, it's not. Who's paying you, Gull? Why do you try to sell people on the idea of Hell as Heaven?

The Gull - 2-25-2008 at 06:58 PM

If it is hell, why stay? Never reported this as heaven, just really nice.

You can pay me, but it won't change the facts.

At least in Playas de Rosarito...Streets are not full of confused US drivers doing illegal turns. Sidewalks are not overrun with drunk under 21 year olds from the US. Cop trucks are not indiscriminately stopping cars to get mordida. Local people are still friendly and extend a smile to anyone. Lots of Government troops moving about reminding people of the real keepers of the peace.

Do you have direct evidence regarding current events in Playas de Rosarito that you have witnessed that differ?

Please share those direct observations as to when and where you saw them.

DENNIS - 2-25-2008 at 07:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by The Gull
Cop trucks are not indiscriminately stopping cars to get mordida.


Oh..Please. ***************************
*******************************
*****************.
Are you going to try to tell the world that the city which had their police station blown apart by cartels and has hosted beheadings along with countless murders is a Garden Of Eden? A city who's mayor ignores these occurances in the interest of tourism?
A snake-pit that has more invisible stop signs than real ones and all highly enforced?
Rosarito is a cauldron of crime and police impropriaty. How can anybody see otherwise?
****************************************
*********************.


[Edited on 2-26-2008 by Hose A]

The Gull - 2-25-2008 at 07:50 PM

Do you have direct evidence regarding current events in Playas de Rosarito that you have witnessed that differ?

Please share those direct observations as to when and where you saw them.

DENNIS - 2-25-2008 at 08:02 PM

Gull....

*********.*** ** ***** **. *** ** ******* * ** ****** ** **** .
***[****] *** ******.**. Furthermore, *** ******* * **** **.

Now, if you don't understand my feelings toward you, **** ** ****
********** ** * ****** ********* ** * ** **** ******** and ****.

Try to understand what I'm saying ********Gull. It's requesite to our future corespondence.

gibson - 2-25-2008 at 08:12 PM

Mennis. You're so obviously one of those that gets all their 'accurate information from the internet'.
I think you should get outside some. (Or request your handler get you outside or whatever)
I think it would do you the world of good.
just a suggestion.

HotSchott - 2-25-2008 at 08:18 PM

Mexico has a real problem with crime and they aren't going to fix it in the media. After thirty plus years traveling south I personally have to consider what my gut instincts tell me.

DENNIS - 2-25-2008 at 08:36 PM

Well, Gibby....You arn't here. You're in the states, in a safe place. I know you say you're a big-time land owner on East Cape but, you arn't here. You arn't in Mexico. I don't know exactly where you are but your comments are inapropriate when you tell me how to react to my environment. My environment....not yours. How would you know. What do you know.
Your behavior and nastiness here have been presented as from one who has tenure. You don't.
You're the classic Baja imposter, telling the world that you are everything Baja. You arn't. You don't live here.

So, Gibby....Don't tell me about how I learn of Baja. Don't tell me how I feel the discomfort of things going wrong where I live. Don't tell me how to act.
You're a fraud in your entitlement to judge. You don't have that.

gibson - 2-25-2008 at 08:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Well, Gibby....You arn't here. You're in the states, in a safe place. I know you say you're a big-time land owner on East Cape but, you arn't here. You arn't in Mexico. I don't know exactly where you are but your comments are inapropriate when you tell me how to react to my environment. My environment....not yours. How would you know. What do you know.
Your behavior and nastiness here have been presented as from one who has tenure. You don't.
You're the classic Baja imposter, telling the world that you are everything Baja. You arn't. You don't live here.

So, Gibby....Don't tell me about how I learn of Baja. Don't tell me how I feel the discomfort of things going wrong where I live. Don't tell me how to act.
You're a fraud in your entitlement to judge. You don't have that.


not in the states and not 'big time' landowner. just a few lottes in east cape. but hey whateves ... still think some fresh air would do ya wonders. salut

The Gull - 2-26-2008 at 06:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Gull....

*********.*** ** ***** **. *** ** ******* * ** ****** ** **** .
***[****] *** ******.**. Furthermore, *** ******* * **** **.

Now, if you don't understand my feelings toward you, **** ** ****
********** ** * ****** ********* ** * ** **** ******** and ****.

Try to understand what I'm saying ********Gull. It's requesite to our future corespondence.


It is shameful that when Hose A edits stuff, a mockery is made of his continued efforts. An apology to him would be in order.

Pescador - 2-26-2008 at 07:54 AM

Geez Dennis, sorry that you are so unhappy where you live in Baja Norte. It would seem to me that you really should change cause it is sad that one has to be so negative about your environment without doing something about it.
I live in Baja most of the year and my only concern at this point is how to avoid things when I get close to Ensenada. I cross at Tecate so avoid all the nasty part of Tijuana south and the reports have perhaps made me more vigilent but has not really soured me on the whole baja experience.
I read the papers, reports, and postings with interest to try to see developing trends so that I can adjust my environment accordingly. But, I really do not want to let things get so out of control that I start to become a victim.

gnukid - 2-26-2008 at 08:51 AM

There are comparisons to make between the US and Mexico in their reporting and response which would seem to have a similar goal, that is both a sense chaos and confusion which reduces our faith in our communities. These are systematic steps being undertaken to bring about a result, that result is common belief that we as a community can't police ourselves and require militarized civilian emergency demanding we give up on our current form of government for another, more empowered to control society which is what we really don't want.

I would suggest that its possible that some government diseminated reports are false and some are sensationalized and others are true such as shootouts though we don't know who is behind them except that all of these are perpetrated to instill fear.

It would behoove us to return to faith in our communities and our way our lives our constitution and the rule of law and do not give in to the pressures of the false flag crime reports.

Remember, use the tools you have, cameras, friends, whatever they may be to identify the facts in the case of criminal activity and stick to it.

It comes down to everyone one of us, do not ever pay mordida, demand a ticket for, get mad at rogue cops and local creeps who steal. Get real mad and stand up for yourself. When the bad guys big and small see the people standing up for themselves they will back down and run.

Dannyrose - 2-26-2008 at 09:10 AM

I have a direct observation but is does not differ from Gulls. Gull it's just like you said. My wife and I were down this weekend. My wife is still there with a friend. The streets were quiet, the restaurant workers were extremely friendly. We even got comped to 2 margaritas at Portofino's after complementing them for a great New Years Eve dinner. The food once again was wonderful. Stopped at Marcossa's #2 (if i spelled that correctly) and had a Marlin taco that rocked! Not to mention a cup of shrimp soup thats served with the chip in the beginning that was better then any lobster bisque I've had. Anyone see the sunset Saturday!!! Dennis, it was red and blazing, is that your hell? cause it looked like heaven to me!

DENNIS - 2-26-2008 at 09:14 AM

If you think that's all there is to Baja, good food and kickass sunsets, tunnel vision serves you well.

Terry28 - 2-26-2008 at 09:42 AM

Dennis,

You must have missed your meds this morning...if it's so bad move.... if not say something positive or...........

wilderone - 2-26-2008 at 10:07 AM

I think the article is irresponsible. It's a personal opinion founded on self-interest. Regardless of the feckless comparatives (murders in New Orleans, etc.), news of attacks and crimes against tourists is news for anyone who travels there. There are many Mexico travelers who live in Southern California, thus, it is obvious that such news should be published in So. Cal. newspapers. To keep the information, once known, suppressed, is also irresponsible and an antithesis to the very purpose of news reporting. The news doesn't require that it be analyzed, twisted to conform to political agendas, contain biases favoring one faction over another, hypothesize the effects, or dictate an opposing strategy. The news should stand on its own: News of attacks, news of more police presence, news of economic fallout, etc, etc. As individuals who choose to delve into the issues that may affect us, we will so peruse the FACTS (from whatever source) and act accordingly.

DENNIS - 2-26-2008 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Terry28
Dennis,

You must have missed your meds this morning...if it's so bad move.... if not say something positive or...........


I lived in Rosarito for two years and I did move.

Hook - 2-26-2008 at 11:28 AM

Well put, wilderone. Give me the news; I'll determine whether it's sensationalized or what not.

Besides, when I see city officials from the corridor being interviewed on TV about how bad it got, I have to believe there is more than a "conservative centrist" agenda at work................whatever that is!:lol:

Conservative................or centrist? Which is it?

I DO think it significant that there appears to have been no major incidents involving tourists since November.

"....I have to admit, it's getting betta,
a little betta. all the time (cant get no worse)......."

[Edited on 2-26-2008 by Hook]

Sharksbaja - 2-26-2008 at 01:05 PM

It's nice to have info at our disposal and it's comforting to know when the reporting is accurate be it good news or bad. Problem is we don't all interpret or digest this stuff the same, You may be able to sift thru the adjectives and senstionalism but many people take it word for word, over and over. It's akin to brainwashing imho. At least we don't have censorship of the press like some countries.
I think some of you give way too much credit to the masses of folks that can't/don't comprehend well. Those people have trouble deciphering or seeing thru the sensationalism. Then, when they see the same message reiterated over and over again, well, they really don't get a complete picture and they end up voting for Bush.:P
I wish the media was fair and balanced for their sake. I think we'll all agree that there is a disproportionate amount of humans running around with blinders on.

Hook - 2-26-2008 at 05:56 PM

Sharks, which would you rather be? An informed person who learned through media that it's not wise to drive the area at night or an uninformed person who did so and paid the price?

If the media and the internet hadn't reported all this, HOW WOULD WE HAVE FOUND OUT????

The Mexican Government never acknowledged it until it became too big to ignore. Local and national media were directly responsible for making it THAT big.

Was it sensationalized? Not really, IMO. Was it overreported? Probably. But that's the nature of the internet. Every news outlet is a source for every other outlet. It just multiplies, especially when it's BAD news.

Terry28 - 2-27-2008 at 09:58 AM

Dennis,

I an sure Ensenada is soooo much safer...no bad cops there...no mordida, no crime, etc........The problem is and has always been ingrained in Mexico and no amount of badmouthing the area will fix that...only time and input from the Mexican people will get things changed...IMHO...I have had a home in Rosarito for over 12 years and am happy to be there. Now that may change if I am robbed,raped and murdered but it hasn't happened yet.

805gregg - 2-28-2008 at 08:15 AM

Lots of Government troops moving about reminding people of the real keepers of the peace. This should tell you something no goverment troops in my area.

[Edited on 2-28-2008 by 805gregg]

The Gull - 2-29-2008 at 06:24 PM

Terry28 I agree with you.

Dannyrose I agree with you.

Better stop at this point as I am trying to practice "if you can't say anything nice about ignorant, myopic people, don't say anything at all"

DENNIS - 2-29-2008 at 06:49 PM

It's amazing from a clinical psychological point of view how buyers remorse can morph into pride of ownership.. You Rosaritoidiotense really have it together.

bancoduo - 2-29-2008 at 07:01 PM

Especially, if you live in a cardboard shack with tires to hold the roof down and dine at the dump.

The Gull - 2-29-2008 at 07:44 PM

Stalkers

gibson - 2-29-2008 at 08:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by The Gull
Stalkers


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

DENNIS - 3-1-2008 at 07:35 AM

Well, thank you, Gull. That's the nicest thing you've ever said about us.

mulegemichael - 3-1-2008 at 05:49 PM

Gawd!....you guys really like to snip at each other, don't you?...geez....just an observation; my bride and i passed through ensenada a few days ago headed north and we STRETCHED to see a turista....nada...not one!...the town is DEAD!...dunno folks...i don't live there...just a thought

bajaguy - 3-1-2008 at 08:25 PM

All of us Ensenada locals do NOT look like touristas!!!!

A photo of my drive-around-town truck.....:lol::lol::lol:

[Edited on 3-2-2008 by bajaguy]

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