Big trouble on Tijuana's main drag: Few Americans

Orange County Register ^ | 5/7/09 | ROSALBA RUÍZ and DENISSE SALAZAR

[South40]

As U.S. travelers avoid Mexico as a destination, Tijuana tourism suffers

TIJUANA – Avenida Revolución is nearly a ghost town now, with the global economic crisis and drug cartel violence slamming the Mexican tourism industry. With the swine flu scare, even more tourists are staying away.

On April 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel alert recommending U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Even before that, the U.S. State Department, for more than a year, had a travel alert in place because of Mexico's drug cartel violence.

[South40]

I live within sight of the US/Mexican border and I won't go near there. Haven't for years.

[BunnySlippers]

It has always been a cesspool. Especially interesting as San Diego is a lovely city.

[americanophile]

...I don’t think a lot of ‘tourists’ go to Tijuana, it’s a dump. It’s more like 18 year olds from San Diego who know they get a drink there with no trouble.

[2ndDivisionVet]

1/3 of the neighborhoods in Dallas/Fort Worth resemble Mexico already, so why would I waste the gas to drive there? There’s a large mall about 5 miles from my house where maybe 10% of the people speak English well enough to be understood. Great food, though...

[umgud]

I used to spend a lot of time working in El Centro CA and would go into Mexicali often. Quit doing that years ago. Too many close encounters that could have been unpleasant.

[unkus]

Chinga Mejico!

[OCC]

"I tell them that if they stay in the tourist areas, they're probably safe and not to worry," he said.

Well, I probably will not go there and have nothing to worry about.

[SoCalPol]

You and about everyone else here in San Diego don’t
go near Tijuana and haven’t for decades.

[Boiling Pots]

That’s what this country is turning into...it really began in earnest in the 90’s and Bush took it to a new level. McCain was on board the entire time.

[South40]

I don’t have to go there, they come here. They steal the fruit from my trees, leave my water running after filling their jugs, have released my animals, tried stealing my cars, trucks and tractors and slept in my barn leaving feces wherever they choose. Why would I go to the pisshole called Mexico when they deliver it to my home?

[sinanju]

And, according to the OCRegister posters, if you want filth, strange smells and crime, you need only go as far as Santa Anna. Why go to Mexico when it is coming to you?

[null and void]

*shrug* I was on Avenida Revolución last month. It was pretty quiet, although I did notice that the Federales at Plaza Rio were all wearing bullet proof vests...

[americanophile]

LOL!

[hinckley buzzard]

I enjoyed visiting Nogales years ago. It was very safe back then, pre-cartel days, and a good time. Too bad about what's happening on our border today.

[gigster]

I was dragged there once, when I was vacationing in SD.
It was a disgusting pit of filth, for the most part.

And I know what I’m talking about.
Because, I grew up in Detroit.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The revel in blaming the US for all their problems, but man, they sure do love our tourism dollars....

[2ndDivisionVet]

I was raised in Chino in the 60’s and early 70’s ... so you know where I’m at!

[Myrddin]

My wife and I took a walk across the border from San Ysidro to Tijuana one afternoon in 1979. We walked around and had lunch. It's a dump. I really didn't see anything that would recommend a return visit. It's far worse now. I've been to Mexicali and Ensenada as well. Neither place was particularly interesting. The Ensenada trip was for the opening of a new Marine Electric office. The company owner provided transportation to/from in his private bus. The office was opened to service tuna seiners in port at Ensendada that didn't intend to visit San Diego before fishing season started.

[philetus]

TJ is a dump?Nice to see the romance of the place hasn’t changed in 45 years.

[Tainan]

heh heh heh..just go to Santa Ana...same same