The program has been in effect since January? First I've heard of it.
It allows TJ/Rosarito/Ensenada shoppers with a receipt for $1000 pesos and voucher from a participating vendor to use that elusive "medical emergency
entry gate" which bypasses about half the line. When you through that "gate" you still need someone nice to let you in their lane if you stay on the
left side (fat chance) or go down to the right side and take your chances with the Tijuaneros playing their usual lane-grabbing games.
Even still- you are still only halfway to the booths. Lately the line mid-morning has been shorter than where that entry gate let's you in.
I don't know what reasons people gave this Tourist Board for not coming to TJ- but I don't think the border wait time back is number one. I would
think the bad economy, the challenges of driving through TJ without harassment for mordidas, and personal safety are higher on tourists list.
Besides, the double inspection booths are going in fast and that will help wait times a lot anyway.
I would guess that if Meixco is opening up the Medical lanes to tourists- it won't be backing up southbound traffic into Mexico and deterring tourists
withthose pesky drug/gun/money smuggling inspections.
So why not run free hourly busses from the border to Rosarito and back every hour and let the tourists walk across from the Trolley? Why not promote
that a daytrip to Mexico is 30% off with the peso devaluation? JMHO
TIJUANA — Some people won't cross the border for fear of the violence they hear about on the news. Others dread the long waits to cross the border
back to the United States. And many are not spending the way they used to because of the poor economy. Whatever the reason, the reality is that U.S.
tourism to Tijuana and the rest of Baja California has sunk. The business sector, along with local and state governments, is trying new ways to
persuade tourists to cross the border, especially as spring vacations begin.
“We don't have the tourism we used to have some years back,” said Jessica Lucero, assistant director of the Tijuana Convention and Visitors Committee,
the agency behind the initiatives. “We're looking to create new strategies so tourists will come back.”
According to the committee's director, Jahdiel Vargas, the number of tourists who crossed from San Ysidro to Tijuana in 2008 fell by 10 percent.
Farther south, the drop felt like a plunge, said Jean-Loup Bitterlin, owner of the El Rey Sol restaurant and the Posada Rey Sol hotel in Ensenada.
Bitterlin estimated that the number of weekend visitors to Ensenada dropped by 80 percent last year. “We're facing a lot of challenges,” he said.
The Cruce Rápido/Fast Track program, launched in January, gives U.S. tourists who spend at least 1,000 pesos (about $66) at participating
establishments a pass that allows them to use a designated lane at the San Ysidro crossing with a shorter wait.
On an average weekend, wait times in the regular vehicle lanes can reach three hours, but the dedicated lane reduces the wait to 30 to 45 minutes,
said Lucero, the pilot program's coordinator. The goal is for tourists who use this incentive to wait no more than 15 minutes to cross the border, she
said.
About 20 hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses in Ensenada, Rosarito Beach and Tijuana have enrolled in the program. To
participate, businesses buy 50 passes for $100.
The dedicated lane is on the left side of the San Ysidro crossing and is marked by signs that guide tourists from Zona Río and Second Street (Calle
Segunda) in downtown Tijuana.
Upon reaching the booth at the entrance to the lane, which is also for customers using medical services, drivers present to a police officer the pass
and a receipt that confirms their purchases. The driver then proceeds to the U.S. gates.
Lucero said 34 tourists have used the lane since January, when the program began.
Publicity about it is just beginning, and the visitors committee is creating maps with directions to the special lane to hand out to tourists who get
the passes, Lucero said.
Bitterlin, the Ensenada restaurateur, was the first to sign up to participate in the program. “I believe in it because it creates an incentive for
tourists,” he said. Another effort by tourism officials is the “120 Things to Do in Tijuana” promotion. The campaign makes various suggestions for
visitors, including things that are unique to the city. It began Saturday and will last 120 days, until July 11, when Tijuana will celebrate its 120th
birthday.
The association also created a Web site – 120thingstodointijuana.org – where users can upload pictures and tell stories of their visits to Tijuana,
said Vargas of the visitors committee, which created the campaign.
At the completion of the campaign, the person who participates the most on the site will receive a prize that has yet to be determined, Vargas said.
“We're going to show all the positives, all the good things Tijuana has to offer,” Vargas said
[Edited on 3-16-2009 by Woooosh]
[Edited on 3-16-2009 by Woooosh]
[Edited on 3-16-2009 by Woooosh]
I'll get hold of a pass
Dave - 3-16-2009 at 01:21 PM
And counterfeit 'em.
They're supposed to be for easy access to medical services, not tourists. If they want to play games then I'm gonna. tjBill - 3-16-2009 at 01:22 PM
Quote:
Lucero said 34 tourists have used the lane since January, when the program began.
The program sounds a little too complex. Too much paper work for the casual tourist.Woooosh - 3-16-2009 at 01:41 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
And counterfeit 'em.
They're supposed to be for easy access to medical services, not tourists. If they want to play games then I'm gonna.
Plus you need a receipt Dave. But my scanner is ready.
[Edited on 3-16-2009 by Woooosh]bajabound2005 - 3-16-2009 at 02:43 PM
BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN FAST TRACK:
ROSARITO BEACH
Rosarito Beach Hotel
Festival Plaza Hotel
Calafia Hotel
Brisas del Mar Hotel
Las Rocas Resort & Spa
La Casa de la Langosta
Grand Baja Resort
Puerto Nuevo II restaurant
Fausto Polanco
ENSENADA
El Rey Sol restaurant and Posada El Rey Sol hotel
Adobe Guadalupe
Estero Beach Hotel
Cortez Hotel
Desert Inn Hotel
El Cid
Sano's
Playitas Club del Mar
TIJUANA
Vita Spa
Corona Plaza Hotel
Real del Río HotelBajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 02:51 PM
Maybe 18 months ago, a prime reason for the tourism drop could be considered the border wait line. Folks who were only going down Sat-Sun cut back on
frequency. But since then, with the focus on the violence and the sinking economy, I just don't see this program adding much business.
And Biterlin is right about the drop in tourists. As recently as three years ago, downtown Ensenada was teeming with tourists and partiers. Places
like Villa Fontana that have balconies overlooking Lopez Mateos, were packed with partiers. Today, you only see more than a couple of gringos on the
streets when the cruise ships come in during the day. That does nothing for the hotel business, or for the fine dining establishments.
[Edited on 3-16-2009 by Bajahowodd]Baja&Back - 3-16-2009 at 09:21 PM
Well, thanks a million for that info. We are going to Estero Beach hotel tomorrow for 2 nites. That's over $66. We will ask for 12 passes for our
whole caravan!!!
Will photocopy them for you.Bajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 11:19 PM
Was at Estero recently. Went in as walk-ins and had a choice of many ocean view rooms. Restaurant had one table occupied at 7:30pm. We got in the car
and drove into town. My primary consideration is that with the huge drop off in tourism, how fresh is the food being served in tourist oriented
restaurants. I would really recommend eating in places that are frequented by locals.fdt - 3-16-2009 at 11:22 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
how fresh is the food being served in tourist oriented restaurants. I would really recommend eating in places that are frequented by locals.
You are a smart person Bajahowodd.Bajahowodd - 3-16-2009 at 11:34 PM
Y usted es un desvergonzado adulador, Ferna.Woooosh - 3-17-2009 at 12:49 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
how fresh is the food being served in tourist oriented restaurants. I would really recommend eating in places that are frequented by locals.
You are a smart person Bajahowodd.
I agree. Busy is good. Spring break is looking fairly busy- so the tourist restaurants in that area should be fine. Of course the youngsters get
booze and free buffets inside the mega-clubs for one price all day long- so it doesn't mean all the boulevard restaurants are doing well.
