L.A. Times article:Tijuana tourism plunges amid drug violence

[sarah c]

my friend was driving his car. I've been to TJ about 30 times always took my car and never had a problem with anyone.

first we got stopped for "speeding". which is totally ridiculous, we were stopped at a red right, once it turned green, the police lights came on as well.

the handcuffs came out when they discovered my buddiy's belt with maze attached to it. he is a security guard and forgot to leave it at home.

i saw the policemans face light up when he found it. he wouldnt let us go after that.

 

[U.S.Veteran]

Did you drive by car? Never do that my fury friend. Your playing roulette driving in there.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks Vergamin for your post, I am now contributing, and also asking questions now Why did they arrest you in handcuffs, they should have a strong reason for it

 

[xx_satanic_mechanic_xx]

lucky you, my buddy and i got stopped by the cops on our way to the border, and had us in handcuffs until we offered them some money.
they kept searching our pockets putting the money in and out of our wallets.
a very sad ending for an otherwise fun night.
in the end they took about $80 i had left and about $200 my buddy had.

 

[anant]

I was down there over the past weekend on Saturday night. It was my virgin trip, but the friend that took me has been going for 7+ yrs. He commented on the smaller crowds in each club (especially Adelita's), but also told me about how much better it is now. There's less competition and more options for anyone that's still going ... there's also a much smaller line at the border on the way back! Not near as many college kids making party trips, etc. The one thing that was very noticeable while I was down there though was the military presense. Apparently the gov't has brought in a couple of thousand troops to patrol and keep the peace. While it's a little uncomfortable to see the hummers roll through the streets with teenagers holding m-16's, they are there to make sure it's safer. Ironically, TJ is probably safer now than it's been for a long time because of bad press. We also didn't get "robbed" by any of TJ's finest on the way back to the border.

 

[robertoalinexs]

ScatManDoo34;421391]www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tijuana17feb17,0,508172.story

Excerpts from this 2/17/08 article:

"Tijuana's recent wave of violence appears to have driven another nail into the coffin of a tourism industry already hobbled by its reputation for tacky tourist traps and rowdy bars and by long waits at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing.

Visits are down 90% since 2005, when an estimated 4.5 million came to the area, according to the downtown merchants association. On an average day now, only about 150 tourists show up, [/I] Are they saying only 150 people a day go to Tijuana? What is the scene since 1/31 passport/id policy?

 

[David W]

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tijuana17feb17,0,508172.story

Excerpts from this 2/17/08 article:

"Tijuana's recent wave of violence appears to have driven another nail into the coffin of a tourism industry already hobbled by its reputation for tacky tourist traps and rowdy bars and by long waits at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing.

Visits are down 90% since 2005, when an estimated 4.5 million came to the area, according to the downtown merchants association. On an average day now, only about 150 tourists show up, the association says. Some encounter the latest Tijuana spectacle: convoys full of heavily armed soldiers rumbling down Avenida Revolucion."


"The tourism collapse is especially sad, many merchants and tourists say, because people may not be aware that recent beautification projects and police crackdowns have left the area safer and spiffier than it has been in years.

Tree-lined promenades feature repaved sidewalks and roadways. Police sweeps have cleared out the drug addicts. Gone too are most of the beggars and hookers. At the balcony bars, club owners have turned down the ear-splitting volume.

Many stores showcase high-quality products: silver from Taxco, Talavera pottery from Michoacan, handcrafted stained-glass and leather products. The Cuban cigars at the business association-approved stores are authentic, and tourists can get custom-made furniture and pinatas at the historic arts and crafts market.

"That's what really represents downtown Tijuana," said Andres Mendez Martinez, coordinator of the merchants association. "Quality products and traditional goods from all over Mexico."

Still, they acknowledge, that's not what Tijuana is famous for these days. It's the bloody battles between police and organized crime that make the headlines.

Since Jan. 1, more than 50 people have been killed across the city, some in wild shootouts that terrified bystanders. Last month, police discovered an organized-crime hide-out near downtown that they said included a training center for hit men complete with a soundproofed basement shooting range.

Recently, the upscale restaurant Hacienda Cien Aٌos, which once drew tourists, was identified by U.S. authorities as a front for money laundering.

Downtown has been flooded with police and has been largely free of the violence. No bystanders have been killed in the shootouts. A crackdown on corrupt transit cops has resulted in fewer reports of extortion, and merchants immediately report officers who stop tourists without reason, according to police.

Still, the negative image hangs over the city. "In reality, the violence isn't targeting tourists. It's between drug traffickers, criminals and police. But the tourist doesn't know the difference," said Victor Clark Alfaro, director of Tijuana's Bi-National Center for Human Rights.

Meanwhile, merchants say even some of those who haven't been scared off by crime reports may be reluctant to visit because of new, stricter requirements for Americans reentering the U.S. from Mexico -- and fears that the rules will make crossing the border slower. U.S. citizens used to get by at the border crossings with oral declarations of citizenship. Now they need to show proof both of citizenship and identity.

"Americans had 9/11; we had 1/31," said Rojas, the waiter, referring to the date the new rules went into effect."