TIJUANA – Baja California officials said Thursday they are expecting close to 200,000 Mexican and foreign tourists to visit their state during the upcoming three-week spring break and Holy Week period.
“For us, it's going to be a vacation period like we haven't seen for the past two years,” Oscar Escobedo Carignan, Baja California's tourism secretary, said at a news conference in Tijuana. “We believe we have an opportunity in our hands.”
Reports of violence and police extortion in Baja California took a heavy toll on tourism, and were a factor in reducing the numbers of U.S. visitors to the state by close to 2 million last year. Lengthy waits at the border also have discouraged visits, officials say.
Escobedo on Thursday stressed the measures that have been taken to make the state safer for visitors, including the restructuring of tourist police units, increasing federal patrols on the toll road between Tijuana and Ensenada and staffing the state's emergency response center with English-speakers.
Escobedo said police extortions have dropped dramatically in recent months following a series of measures by the state and municipal governments.
The Tourism Secretariat is anticipating that vacationers will spend close to $20 million in the state during the period that starts Monday and ends March 24. In addition to spring break and the Christian Holy Week, the state anticipates visitors for the SCORE San Felipe 250 Road Race on March 14 and 15.
The state is adding staff to man tourist information booths in all five municipalities. Rosarito Beach authorities swore in 238 citizen watchdogs this week to assist tourists. The Baja California Attorney General's Office has added English-speaking staff to take tourists' crime reports.
By the numbers
Dial these numbers for help when in Baja California: 078: For tourist assistance. The state of Baja California has staffed its tourist hotline with English speakers.
066 or 911: Dial these numbers from most cell phones to reach the state police communications center. Ask to be connected to an English-speaking operator.
SOURCE: State of Baja California