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bajabound2005
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Baja businesses, tourism officials to U.S. customers: 'Come Back!'
Baja businesses, tourism officials to U.S. customers: 'Come Back!'
By Greg Gross
UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM
5:38 p.m. January 23, 2008
TIJUANA – With cross-border visits showing marked declines, business and Baja California tourism officials are going into full-scale damage control in
hopes of regaining ground lost over the past year.
“The image of the security problem has hit the state very badly,” said Baja California's tourism secretary, Oscar Escobedo Carignan.
At a news conference Wednesday at state government offices in Tijuana, Escobedo described a new program aimed at luring visitors back to the region's
tourist spots.
The program, called “Get Your Passport,” offers discounts at hotels, restaurants bars and shops to those holding a U.S. passport.
On the promotional posters and other materials being printed for the campaign are the words, “Come Back!”
Escobedo also told reporters that the state was contracting with a public relations firm to help Baja California deal with what he termed “crisis
management.”
The problem lies in a major falloff of visitors driving to the Baja California region from the United States. Escobedo said there were 1.5 million
fewer visitors in 2007 than in 2006.
“We have over 80,000 people who are U.S. citizens who live in Baja California. They are aware of what the situation is and we don't have any problem
with those people,” Escobedo said. “The problem is with people who do not understand the border.
“It's a challenge and we're working on it.”
Escobedo said the region has suffered a significant blow to its image with reports of organized crime and violence in Baja California, as well as of
robberies and assaults on foreign tourists in the last year.
That image wasn't helped by news videos broadcast around the world showing a fierce 3½-hour gunbattle last week between Mexican police and soldiers
and gunmen believed loyal to the Arellano Felix drug cartel. Six bodies of presumed kidnap victims were found in the house after the shooting ended.
Escobedo insisted, however, that stepped up patrols along what he termed “secure routes” between Tijuana and Ensenada had taken hold, and that no
additional highway banditry had been reported since Nov. 17.
“This is something that will be permanent by the state and federal government and we feel confident that this will not be an issue anymore,” Escobedo
said.
Those who view Baja California as a dangerous, crime-ridden region, Escobedo said, do so because of what he described as heavily repeated news
accounts of robberies and assaults. He said that gives the impression that the incidents are more frequent and recent than they actually are.
“If my children go to school in the United States,” he said. “I'm not going to pull them out just because of Columbine.”
In his view, the long waits at the ports of entry to return to U.S. territory present more of an impediment to travel, he said. But he also insisted
that with the Mexican federal government beginning to take a hard line against organized crime in that country, the region's image would improve.
“We are going through a maturing process, and we're not going to put up with this anymore,” he said.
The “Get Your Passport” program begins as the region braces for U.S. border crossing rules that go into effect Jan. 31. The rules require U.S.
citizens to show proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, naturalization papers or a passport, to re-enter the United States through any
land crossing. Some businesses fear the rules will further hurt tourism.
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Greg Gross: (619) 293-1889; greg.gross@uniontrib.com
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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bajaguy
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Escobedo also told reporters that the state was contracting with a public relations firm to help Baja California deal with what he termed “crisis
management.”....................
If he really wants to handle crisis management he should contract with Blackwater..........
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Al G
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Few people if any fear gun battles or the drug cartels...they know the cops are behind the highway robberies...The cops are the ones praying on the
tourist for their Mordidia. Most people are sick and tired of the contempt the cops have for travelers....until they show proof positive of arrest and
pursuit of the criminal cops nobody is going to be happy. They are trying to blame these highway and beach jacking on the cartels and we all know it
is the cops doing it.
The shear fact they will not listen to you, should tell you that...how could they try to arrest themselves 
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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bajadedom
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The problem is that Americans DO...yes we DO UNDERSTAND the border and thats why we don't feel safe until we're 100 miles south of it.....STOP BLAMING
the press(that's why we DO understand) and Colombine (not relevant at all)....Just searching for more BS to camaflouge the reality of corruption
existing and growing in Mexico. Calling a route "secure" because it is patrolled (you don't need to patrol anything that is secure do you?) just
emphasizes the fact that if there is no patrol in sight...the route must NOT be secure. Stay put and hurt 'em economically is the answer
---$$$talks......etc.
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CaboRon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Al G
Few people if any fear gun battles or the drug cartels...they know the cops are behind the highway robberies...The cops are the ones praying on the
tourist for their Mordidia. Most people are sick and tired of the contempt the cops have for travelers....until they show proof positive of arrest and
pursuit of the criminal cops nobody is going to be happy. They are trying to blame these highway and beach jacking on the cartels and we all know it
is the cops doing it.
The shear fact they will not listen to you, should tell you that...how could they try to arrest themselves |
Right on Al,
And why are his kids going to school in the US if it is so safe in TJ ? You can bet those weren't his kids being escorted to safety the other day
during the shootout.
CaboRon
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Cypress
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The stagnant US real estate market is also a factor.
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bajabound2005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
Right on Al,
And why are his kids going to school in the US if it is so safe in TJ ? You can bet those weren't his kids being escorted to safety the other day
during the shootout.
CaboRon |
Perhaps you misread the quote. It says, IF his kids went to school in the US...., not that they DO.
Incidentally, we made the drive from San Diego to Ensenada on Tuesday. No evidence of any elevated "security" anywhere. The military has set up a
new camp on Internacional (just before the Playas turnoff southbouth) where they were last year, but they were not stopping any cars.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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bajadock
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I'm sticking with with my optimistic/fairy tale viewpoint. Now that significant money is being lost, several are attempting to change. The druggers
are likely changing as well. Hoping that all levels of government, business sector and private citizens are moving in a similar direction to make
life more difficult for criminals.
I'm living here, spending my money here and along the TJ-Ensenada corridor and enjoying my freedom.
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David K
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I wonder why he thinks we would react positively to the statement/ idea of his kids going to school in the U.S. (in his example of a 'what if'
situation)??? Who does he think pays that cost, not any Mexico taxpayers!!
This is just so lame!
Right on Al G !!
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bajajazz
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COPS, NOT CARTELS
It's fundamentally absurd to say that the drug cartels are behind the extortion attempts that are occurring on the TJ-Ensenada highway. That kind of
highway mordida activity reeks of police involvement and it's ridiculous to think that heavy duty gangsters who are raking in millions -- even
billions -- of dollars a year would stoop to it.
And throwing in a reference to the Columbine tragedy? That's low-class dirty pool and not relevant to the discussion at hand at all.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajajazz
That kind of highway mordida activity reeks of police involvement and it's ridiculous to think that heavy duty gangsters who are raking in millions
-- even billions -- of dollars a year would stoop to it. |
It's the other way around, Einstien. The police are involved in all of it.
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Hook
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Even with my personal boycott due to the crime, I cant disagree with his contention that the border waits are also a factor. I had begun reducing my
number of weekend trips because I simply got tired of waiting for around two hours OR cutting my trips short to avoid the peak times.
Making the weekend trips a bit longer to avoid the crowds isnt always an option for the 40 hour employee.
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Al G
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I agree with you Hook...I hate it and my Motorhome hates it....she got to saying nasty things to me last time.
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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fdt
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajajazz
And throwing in a reference to the Columbine tragedy? That's low-class dirty pool and not relevant to the discussion at hand at all.
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I agree with you and I'm sorry he made that remark.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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Al G
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There is something people who make the excuse "well it is happening in LA, Oakland, Las Vegas..." are not taking into account, It is still happening
in Baja Norte, and Sur. The people in LA..Richmond, Oakland are screaming and demanding something be done...not much is...but they are not blaming
Baja...
Someone said they don't know who the bad cops are...the good ones do...and their brother-in-laws do...long time resident of TJ and Rosarito do...their
friends do. I am not talking about someone that is invisible. The US is full of sickos that are caught everyday and still more come up like
weeds...the difference??? the cops. In Baja the cops are the cancer...hard to judge them though, the cancer has been in their society forever. They
have their detractors, but they have others that support them to the extent of ignoring RAW facts. The drugs and cartels are all side
issues...something the tourist officials can blame for the down turn in tourism. The real truth is Gringos are afraid of the cops and just cannot deal
with the harassment.
This official is using the army being there, to say all is safe no more problems...when the army is gone in a month, just what do you think will
happen....they didn't put the cops in jail and that includes the "good" ones, so we are back to square one. This is actual sickness that requires
total marshall law and replacement of all cops, good and bad...I do not feel for the good ones, because they know who the bad ones are.
I sure hope they are putting the cops away...I know they had some proof...but if they are and not publicizing it they are making a major mistake. They
can put all the cartel people they want in jail and it will not make any difference to the tourist...you put the cops in jail for raping that woman
and put the cops in jail for holding a gun to the head of a young kid...it will make all the US papers. Go out and prove the cops did something to
catch criminals or return property in defense of a gringo...that will make the world papers  That is when you get the gringo dollar back...if they ever
accomplish this they will have all the gringo tourist dollar they can use.
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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DENNIS
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If they think business is bad now, wait till passports / birth certs are required for re-entry. Revolution Avenue on weekend nights will be a ghost
town. I don't think too many of these partying kids will be getting the required documents just to drink at 18.
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Alan
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Passports? Border waits? These are mere inconveniences that I have no problem dealing with. When they can guarantee the safety of my family I will
return. Not before! They need to focus on changing the reality, not the just image.
Providing armed escorts in front and behind tourist caravans might not be so far-fetched.
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Al G
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I believe the cops are laying low for now...just waiting until this blows over again. The danger for your family is minimal now. Just proves it is the
cops who are doing the raping and scaring the crap of of young kids while robbing them. It won't last long though...once a cop starts living the
criminal life, they will have to rob again to support that life...
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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CaboRon
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Do you expect a public relations person to say anything else ? 
I mean, that's what they do
CaboRon
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fdt
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They hav'nt been hired yet.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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