Baja's best summer of the last 5 years - Reports an increase in touristic activity
From San Diego Red
SAN DIEGO- "Baja California had the best touristic record summer in five years according to official data by the Tourism Secretariat of the State.
During the season spanning from July 02 to August 18, the five cities reported an increase in hotel occupancy. Tijuana went up by three percent
regarding last year, while Ensenada, Rosarito and Tecate showed a positive trend of seven, six and five percent, respectively. Mexicali kept a 54
percent of demand while San Felipe went up five percent.
The beach destinations showed an increase in tourism mainly from the United States, both American and Hispanic ones according to reports.
About it, Baja California's Secretary of Tourism, Juan Tintos Funcke, credited the rise in numbers to a change in the perception visitors have of the
state, they now turn to the region looking for culture, gastronomy and recreation.
"The image has improved greatly," remarks the officer. "We've had a bigger presence in the United States, and it has also helped us that big names
like Anthony Bourdain, Rick Bayless, famous actors and business leaders say good things about our state."
After the boom of Baja Med cuisine enhanced by the visit of those Chefs and others, he mentioned that organizations like the National Chamber of the
Restaurant Industry and Prepared Food (CANIRAC in Spanish) have reported a tourism increase to food venues of 20-25 percent from the one of 2011.
Other indicators of the great summer was the rise of vehicles traveling on Baja's roads, the most popular being the Tijuana-Ensenada highway with
6'190,195 cars from January to July against the 6'500,178 registered in 2011.
Cruises arriving to Ensenada also escalated in number, 2012 received 102 ships while 2011 had only 194 arrivals; that mean 248,276 passengers. The
same happened in the airports of Tijuana and Mexicali. The first one had 2'248,276 people arriving to it while the second had 309,360 visitors during
the year's first semester.
Baja California authorities have reinforced their campaigns to draw tourists from the US. This summer most foreign visitors came from Los Angeles, San
Diego, Orange County, Nevada and Arizona.
This year, officers have made 12 promotional tours through different US cities and, according to Tintos Funcke, more will come before the year ends.
"We have seen a lot of loyalty from the Hispanic community in the United States, but also a surge of Caucasian tourists," he said.
He also mentioned the event schedule the region offers, highlighting cultural and gastronomical festivals as well as concerts. This year Baja
California has hosted Enrique Iglesias, Alejandro Fernández and, in a couple of days, Luis Miguel.
On the same vein, he said that according to Provino, attendance to the Harvest Fest (Fiestas de la Vendimia) this year went from 55,000 to 65,000.
Lastly, he talked about the events that are still to come this year and that we have listed."
TIJUANA
Festiarte: September 7 - 9
Entijuanarte: October 4 - 7
Tijuana Innovadora: October 11 to 21
ROSARITO
Bike Ride Rosarito-Ensenada: September 29
Baja Sand 2012 and Off Road Expo: September 30
Mariachi Festival: October 3 to 7
Rosarito-Puerto Nuevo Half Marathon: October 13
Lobster Fest: October 14
Quixote Fest: October 27
MEXICALI
Desert Music Fest: September 15
Sun Fest: September 28 to October 14
Champion's Grand Prix Race: October 14
Eleva Mexicali Forum: November 8 to 10
ENSENADA
Baja Sea Food Expo: September 19 to 22
Gobernador Tournament of Sport Fishing: September 22
Fish and Seafood Fest: September 23
Bike Ride Rosarito-Ensenada: September 29
National Clean Beaches Congress: October 5 and 6
Cheese and Wine Fest in Ojos Negros: October 7
San Diego-Ensenada Yacht Race: October 5 and 6
Baja 1000: November 14 to 17
Gray Whale Sightings: Starting from December 15
Nota original: Alexandra Mendoza
Traducción: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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