BajaNomad - Mexico Tourism Official says: Travel alerts are a ploy to keep dollars in USA

Mexico Tourism Official says: Travel alerts are a ploy to keep dollars in USA

BajaNews - 3-2-2009 at 11:35 AM

http://www.yumasun.com/news/ploy_48307___article.html/alerts...

BY GEOVANA RUANO FONSECA
March 1, 2009

SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Son. — The two travel alerts sent out by the U.S. State Department warning travelers about an increase in crime in border cities in Baja California and Sonora are really negative advertising to prevent American citizens from crossing to Mexico and spending their dollars there, said David Rojas Rojas, general director of the Mexicali COTUCO, the Comite de Turismo y Convenciones, the Convention and Visitor Bureau, known by its acronym in Spanish COTUCO.

Rojas, who promotes tourism in Los Algodones, Mexicali and San Felipe, said it was obvious that the economic crisis in the U.S. is the reasoning behind curtailing American tourism in order to prevent dollars being spent in Mexico.

“We are not minimizing the violence that exists in our country but we are doing well,” Rojas said pointing out that there is violence in the U.S. as well.

“We know that in Las Vegas there were 4,000 crimes committed and that in San Diego several people have been kidnapped and nothing is said and no one is alerted,” he said.

About spring breakers visiting San Felipe, Rojas said that hotels in the area El Cortez and San Felipe Marina already have a high number of rooms booked.

Just last week, San Felipe and Ensenada were filled with tourists participating in Fat Tuesday carnivals.

On a final note, Rojas said local, state and federal agencies on safety worked cooperatively to provide a safe 2009 Caribbean Series, an international baseball tournament that takes place in Mexicali as well as past international expos such as Agrobaja, a farming and fishing exhibition, which will be March 12-14.

“There will always be campaigning, but we want to make it clear that Mexicali is aware of the travel advisories and we take care of our visitors to the point of providing additional policing especially in tourist areas and events,” Rojas said.

Bajahowodd - 3-2-2009 at 11:41 AM

Actually, the reverse seems to be true. The State Department has been unusually silent on the violence in Mexico for quite some time. I thought they were doing Mexico a favor by not issuing alerts. Either way, it's not going to keep me from traveling to Baja.

Woooosh - 3-2-2009 at 11:48 AM

Just when Gates says Mexico is willing to cooperate with the USA for the first time ever- this idiot speaks. So much for honesty and goodwill. Whenever a Mexican official says something is "obvious" it is most definately not or they wouoldn't have to say it.

The strong demand for the dollar is worldwide. The Euro and euro-zone is teetering on the brink of disaster. Is the US State Department telling everyone not to travel anywhere outside the USA? no.

DENNIS - 3-2-2009 at 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNews

Mexico Tourism Official says: Travel alerts are a ploy to keep dollars in USA

That sentiment doesn't require a "Ploy." Seeing the USA isn't any kind of second class event.

CaboRon - 3-2-2009 at 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
Just when Gates says Mexico is willing to cooperate with the USA for the first time ever- this idiot speaks. So much for honesty and goodwill. Whenever a Mexican official says something is "obvious" it is most definately not or they wouoldn't have to say it.

The strong demand for the dollar is worldwide. The Euro and euro-zone is teetering on the brink of disaster. Is the US State Department telling everyone not to travel anywhere outside the USA? no.

Where do these guys get this crap ?????

It seems to be the national pastime in Mexico to blame everything on everyone else ....

This is not a way to solve problems or to grow as a nation ...

CaboRon

Bajajack - 3-2-2009 at 01:37 PM

Even the most highly educated of the mex elite still don't get it.

slimshady - 3-2-2009 at 01:46 PM

As an active member of law enforcement in Southern California I can actually say that we are probably the most violent nation in terms of crimes committed against one another. What you read in the paper is probably 2 percent of what actually happens. Just alone there are about 13 killinings from Friday to Sunday in la county alone.
Your probably 10X safer walking through TJ than walking through South Central.

oldlady - 3-2-2009 at 01:50 PM

Slimshady, thanks for the post...and your service.

tripledigitken - 3-2-2009 at 01:53 PM

Does'nt seem like it has been very quiet in Tijuana while Juarez is out of control? For a while it seemed like a day couldn't go by without some Drug related killing in Tijuana. I don't think it's a matter of the news not being reported, as we usually get the Mexican news by some poster who lives in Baja.

Any theories?

Ken

Bajajack - 3-2-2009 at 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajack
Even the most highly educated of the mex elite still don't get it.

Quote:

Originally posted by Cabronron
It seems to be the national pastime in Mexico to blame everything on everyone else ....

Wait a minute, one guy says something idiotic and you think it represents a whole class of people? Now THAT is nonsense.

What you and Cabronron say certainly doesn't reflect what I think. Who doesn't get it? Who is stuck on stupid?

You sound just like the ones we're referring too, all mouth and no common sense! :rolleyes:

CaboRon - 3-2-2009 at 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajack

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajack
Even the most highly educated of the mex elite still don't get it.

Quote:

Originally posted by Cabronron
It seems to be the national pastime in Mexico to blame everything on everyone else ....

You sound just like the ones we're referring too, all mouth and no common sense! :rolleyes:

k-rico - 3-2-2009 at 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tripledigitken
Does'nt seem like it has been very quiet in Tijuana while Juarez is out of control? For a while it seemed like a day couldn't go by without some Drug related killing in Tijuana. I don't think it's a matter of the news not being reported, as we usually get the Mexican news by some poster who lives in Baja.

Any theories?

Ken

I live in TJ and the violence has diminished. I can only guess it's because the cartel battling the Arelleno-Felix Organization was successful in the new tactic they employed. I read somewhere they murdered many small time street dealers in TJ who sold AFO drugs in addition to AFO big shots. Plus senior AFO personnel in San Diego county have been arrested and their property seized. I don't know, but perhaps control of the Tijuana corridor has switched to, what would it be? the Sinaloan cartel?

I'm just guessing.

k-rico - 3-2-2009 at 02:14 PM

I apologize for the personal attacks. I know they are not proper for this side of the board. I should have kept what I think of your posts and to myself. I was going to remove my post but you quoted me.

Woooosh - 3-2-2009 at 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slimshady
As an active member of law enforcement in Southern California I can actually say that we are probably the most violent nation in terms of crimes committed against one another. What you read in the paper is probably 2 percent of what actually happens. Just alone there are about 13 killinings from Friday to Sunday in la county alone.
Your probably 10X safer walking through TJ than walking through South Central.

I'll bet crime in Mexico is just as underreported, in fact I'm fairly sure about that.

lizard lips - 3-2-2009 at 07:26 PM

I actually got a kick out of this article. Director David Rojas wants tourism and says there are no problems but what he failed to mention was don't take a camera and ask anyone for photographs (especially under age girls) especially in Los Algodones, to pose naked. That got a little press a while back. I believe the mother of the girl wanted a few bucks to settle this out of court but instead the two guys, one eighty years old is still in prison just on the word of the mother. It still has not made it to court. I wonder why there is a problem with tourism David?

The Gull - 3-2-2009 at 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

I'll bet crime in Mexico is just as underreported, in fact I'm fairly sure about that.

Slim, the point you make has been made many times before and it always gets the same response - under-reporting of crime in Mexico probably makes Mexico more dangerous than a walk through LA. It is consistent that some Nomads have their minds made up about things that they know nothing about and no matter what views are offered to the opposite, they will hold on to them. Age has a lot to do with this condition along with education.

Having had the opportunity of walking the mean streets of East Los, South Central and Harbor, myself for many years, I would take a walk in TJ on any day of the week as the alternative.
:tumble:

Wanna meet for carnitas in Boyle Heights? I offered this to a number of blowhard Nomads in the past and offered to pay as some Nomads are in Baja for economic reasons and oddly enough, no one was interested.
:lol:

BajaGringo - 3-3-2009 at 08:47 AM

Global recession/depression has more to do with the drop in tourism in Mexico and just about everywhere on this planet. I subscribe to a number of different newspapers online from around the globe where I have lived and worked. They all complain about the same thing.

shari - 3-3-2009 at 11:45 AM

on our trip to Guerrero Negro last weekend, I was figured it would be pretty quiet...WRONG...hotels were fully booked, whale tours packed and operators told me it has been an excellent season this year much to my surprise.

Bajahowodd - 3-3-2009 at 12:00 PM

Mine too. Great for their economy.

Woooosh - 3-3-2009 at 12:09 PM

Daylight savings time is an American anti-Mexican ploy created solely to prevent Americans from spending dollars in Mexico one hour per day!

The Gull - 3-3-2009 at 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
Daylight savings time is an American anti-Mexican ploy created solely to prevent Americans from spending dollars in Mexico one hour per day!

Moving the exchange rate to 15 pesos to the dollar is Mexico's way of encouraging American Military to support the Mexican street walker industry.