Relevant Information from SECTURE (Secretary of Tourism)
In order to create a better environment for visitors to Baja California, we are pleased to share a few of the actions that are taking place in
coordination with authorities from the three levels of Government in order to assure a safe and pleasant stay for travelers to our State.
First of all, it should be underlined that Baja California maintains a very welcoming and positive attitude towards visitors, the same that
historically has made us one of the preferred destinations for tourist from the United States and from all over the world.
While in the latter part of 2007 a number of isolated incidents took place, corrective undertakings where implemented by the authorities which
have proven to benefit those who travel in our State. A good indicator was Easter and Spring Break vacation, as expectations where surpassed when over
380 thousand national and foreign visitors traveled throughout Baja California without an incident worth mentioning.
Among the efforts in place, the following should be mentioned:
1. Starting on Avenida Internacional and along the border zone of Tijuana a tourism assistance effort with motorcycle guides to orient our
visitors is ongoing everyday.
2. Our Visitor Assistance Hotline 078 was improved. This toll free service provides visitors with information and assistance when
necessary 365 days a year.
3. We now have sixteen Visitor Information Centers available throughout the State.
4. We have produced and are distributing over two million "safety tips" brochures that include a map as well as useful information for
our visitors.
5. We have upgraded and in some cases relocated our offices in order to be closer to visitors and provide better service.
6. We are maintaining a closer working relationship with law enforcement agencies as well as the highway patrol to disseminate useful
information and to assure they provide timely assistance to visitors when necessary.
7. Bilingual operators are now available at our Emergency Phone Line 066 which can also be accessed once here from any US cellular phone,
by dialing 911 or 112 from European cellular providers.
8. We increased the roadside assistance service provided by the "Green Angels" .
9. A new internet link is available on our website www.discoverbajacalifornia.comso that our visitors may describe their Baja California experience. This space is available to for , suggestions and
even complaints..
In so far as the City Authorities are concerned:
The new Tourism Police is now in service in the city of Rosarito Beach.
Also in Rosarito Beach, a citizen watch group was formed with 300 volunteers to oversee that visitors have a pleasant experience while
there.
In the City of Tijuana, law enforcement presence has been addressed and drastic measures are in place to prosecute police officers that
act unethically.
In the City of Ensenada a training program has been implemented focused on bilingual tourism police officers.
This has been a summary of some of the important actions that we have implemented to assure our visitors a pleasant stay while in Baja
California.
For additional information please visit our web page at
The criminal activity regarding the shootout between criminals, the Japanese business man are very unfortunate but not related to tourist
visiting Baja California and the case of the local couple that were robbed and the wife rape, very unfortunate but is not a recent event, it happened
late October of 2007 in Cuatro Casas south of the state, all levels of government and society are doing all to insure a safe and fun Baja California
Experience, proof of that is that since November of 2007 there has been NO incidents that involved tourist, specially in tourist destination, the
Tijuana-Rosarito-Enseanda corridor , the Wine Country Trail and federal highways, all of the people of Mexico are committed to a better and safe
county, Baja California is part of this important effort and have results in this matter,
Please feel free to contact me at your convenience is you have any questions or are in need of assistance during your visits to Baja
California, we will contact Mira Costa College to inform them about the actual situation regarding tourism in our state, and hope they can continue
their program to the wine country and other great destinations available to all visitors.
Arturo Martinez Esquer
Deputy Director of Visitor Assistance
State Secretariat of Tourism of Baja California From the U.S. please dial:
All very positive steps in the right direction. Too bad he had to end it with what amounts to a denial of past events by suggesting they have a shelf
life and are no longer relevant. All events matter and short memory won't change that. For myself, I have to remember the bad so as to understand
the good, such as the efforts put forward by Sr. Martinez. If all efforts outlined above are sincerely implemented, life will be better for
everybody.
Two thumbs up.Capt. George - 6-6-2008 at 09:05 AM
Hope it works. Such a shame for all the hard working people in Baja to be penalized by the few bad apples..
Baja needs our dinero and we need the peace of Baja...CaboRon - 6-6-2008 at 09:11 AM
Well spoken Dennis,
What especially bothered me (in addition to that last paragraph which you refer to) is opening with that statement about how "Historically"
La Baja has a welcoming place to Americans ... Well, historically , and I have been coming here since 1949 ... we have been treated as easy pickings
for the police (can you say mordida?) .... encounters with TJ and Rosarito Beach police have always been something to be aprehensive about.
Back to my garden,
CaboRonfulano - 6-6-2008 at 09:41 AM
Don't worry guys, our problems are over:
Quote:
Ordena Calderón cero tolerancia contra la corrupción
El presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa ordenó a todos los funcionarios de la Administración Pública Federal cero tolerancia a la corrupción e
influyentismo, y a las compras amañadas de gobierno. http://www.cronica.com.mx/nota.php?id_nota=365910
This is every bit as credible as the quote from the Secretary of Tourism in the top message:
"While in the latter part of 2007 a number of isolated incidents took place..."
"a number of isolated incidents". They're so used to this patronizing babble-speak they don't even
think about what the words mean.Pescador - 6-6-2008 at 12:55 PM
I am amazed that people continue to come to Baja California when all of their perceptions of the place is so negative. It seems to me that if I felt
that bad about a place, I would just avoid that place.Cypress - 6-6-2008 at 01:02 PM
Progress? North of the border we have more "progress" than we can handle. Progress isn't all it's cracked up to be.fulano - 6-6-2008 at 01:58 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
I am amazed that people continue to come to Baja California when all of their perceptions of the place is so negative. It seems to me that if I felt
that bad about a place, I would just avoid that place.
Why so you think those that have negative perceptions still come?
"Por violencia del narco se desploma turismo en los estados fronterizos
Andres Timoteo Morales (Corresponsal)
Veracruz, Ver., 5 de junio. El año pasado la violencia asociada al narcotráfico provocó que 6 millones de personas dejarán de visitar los seis estados
fronterizos de México con Estados Unidos, reveló hoy Carolina Cárdenas Sosa, subsecretaria de Planeación de la Secretaría de Turismo (Sectur)."Woooosh - 6-6-2008 at 02:01 PM
Just more of the same double-speak. Half admissions of problems. I've not seen any helpers on the via rapidway, the tourist police in Rosarito don't
even speak English and where are those 300 volunteers they atalk about hiding out?
The reality is they conveniently have no clear recollection of recent past events, no workable security plan for the future and are totally at the
whim and mercy of the narcos. Firing police so they will become full-time narcos is not a security plan- it's a narco recruitment service.
The only thing they can do is to put on their game face though and make believe everything is fine- they will never ever tell you Baja is unsafe and
don't come visit until they get ahandle on it.tripledigitken - 6-6-2008 at 02:02 PM
Fulano,
I am envious of your bilingual skills. However, in responding to others posts in Spanish leaves alot of us out of the exchange. Would it be too much
trouble to provide an English translation?
Thanks,
Kenfulano - 6-6-2008 at 03:53 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Fulano,
I am envious of your bilingual skills. However, in responding to others posts in Spanish leaves alot of us out of the exchange. Would it be too much
trouble to provide an English translation?
Thanks,
Ken
Sorry. It's takes time to translate accurately. But if you'll just Babelfish it, you'll get a butchered version that willl give you the jist of it: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/
Here's a cleaner translation:
"Tourism in border states falls due to drug violence
Veracruz, Friday, June 5. Last year violence associated with drug trafficing caused 6 million people to stop visiting the six Mexican states that
border the United States, disclosed Carolina Card##as Sosa, undersecretary of Planning for the Tourism ministry(Sectur)."
North of the border we have more "progress" than we can handle.