Tijuana, saying tourists are safe, invites them to participate in 120th birthday

A city has to try to survive amid a devastating tourism scare caused by a violent drug war, travel alerts and oft-sensational media reports — and Tijuana is trying.

The bustling metropolis, which until recently flourished as a festive tourism destination, turns 120 on July 11.

In advance of that milestone, at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Jai Alai Palace Esplanade on Avenida Revolucion, various officials will launch a campaign titled “120 Things to do in Tijuana.”

A promotional calendar and website will list 120 things tourists can do in the historic city as they count down to its momentous birthday, and it’s hoped there will be enough tourists to make both celebrations happy and memorable.

“We want to remind people about the great things you can still do in Tijuana, tomorrow and the rest of the year,” says Gerardo Delgado, secretary of the Tijuana Convention and Visitors Bureau.

People don’t need reminding that drug cartels are engaging in a brutal war among themselves and police as they try to secure Mexican border areas so vital to their smuggling trade.

Glaring newspaper headlines and TV reports are as constant as the killings and at times unfairly imply that tourists risk being shot or kidnapped if they so much as set foot across the border.

Few point out that tourists have not become targets in the narco-war and Tijuana, like Rosarito Beach to the south, is trying mightily to eliminate corruption in the police force.

“The question is, ‘Is it safe to go to Tijuana?’ We should answer, visitors are absolutely safe, and now’s the time to try Tijuana again,” Delgado assures. “Especially for day-trippers who want to to come down and enjoy themselves for a great day of fun, entertainment and arts, and great bargains.”

You cannot blame Delgado, who is also a hotel manager, for trying. He sounds genuine when he says the city and its residents have great respect for and have placed a great deal of trust in new police chief Gustavo Huerta, a former captain in the Mexican military.

“We don’t believe too much in the police but by meeting this guy we finally met someone we need to support and help,” Delgado says, acknowledging that it’s perhaps more important to keep him alive.

People don’t need reminding that drug cartels are engaging in a brutal war among themselves and police as they try to secure Mexican border areas so vital to their smuggling trade.

Glaring newspaper headlines and TV reports are as constant as the killings and at times unfairly imply that tourists risk being shot or kidnapped if they so much as set foot across the border.

Few point out that tourists have not become targets in the narco-war and Tijuana, like Rosarito Beach to the south, is trying mightily to eliminate corruption in the police force.

“The question is, ‘Is it safe to go to Tijuana?’ We should answer, visitors are absolutely safe, and now’s the time to try Tijuana again,” Delgado assures. “Especially for day-trippers who want to to come down and enjoy themselves for a great day of fun, entertainment and arts, and great bargains.”

You cannot blame Delgado, who is also a hotel manager, for trying. He sounds genuine when he says the city and its residents have great respect for and have placed a great deal of trust in new police chief Gustavo Huerta, a former captain in the Mexican military.

“We don’t believe too much in the police but by meeting this guy we finally met someone we need to support and help,” Delgado says, acknowledging that it’s perhaps more important to keep him alive.

Hopefully, Huerta will be able to proudly enjoy the city’s 120th birthday.