bajabound2005 - 3-25-2008 at 08:42 AM
Baja officials note significant tourism increase over Easter weekend
UNION-TRIBUNE
March 24, 2008
TIJUANA – Baja California tourism officials say they saw a significant increase in visitors during the four-day Easter weekend compared with the past
few months, bringing much-needed income to economically struggling tourist destinations.
At a news conference Monday, Tourism Secretary Oscar Escobedo Carignan said 143,000 U.S. and Mexican travelers spent about $18 million from Thursday
to Sunday. Last year, the state tallied 149,000 visitors during the popular vacation period, when spring break and Christian Holy Week coincide.
“We consider it a success story,” Escobedo said. “We feel there's a turnaround as far as tourist activity.”
Tourism officials say a range of factors contributed to the decline in visitors to the state last year, including reports of crime, lengthy border
lines, an economic downturn in California and the announcement of stiffer U.S. proof of citizenship requirements for border crossers.
Hotel occupancy was highest in the Gulf of California community of San Felipe, which registered average occupancy rates of 99.4 percent for Thursday,
Friday and Saturday. In Ensenada, the figure was 84.5, and Rosarito Beach, the average occupancy was 62.5 percent, according to the tourism
secretariat's tally.
sylens - 3-25-2008 at 12:06 PM
the costero extension south of the navy base looked a lot like pch (pacific coast highway) used to in the 50s and 60s. it was lined with cars on both
sides of the street as families parked and then headed down onto the beach from the road. i've never seen the beaches here (playa hermosa and
conalep) so crowded. not exactly santa monica, but more like pismo beach. amazing
