SAN DIEGO ( Border Report )— Tourism and Chamber of Commerce authorities in Tijuana are expecting more than 60,000 Americans, mostly from Southern California, to attend Baja this holiday trip.
“This is an important holiday in the United States. It’s a day to honor those who have fallen defending their country, ” said Karim Chalita Rodríguez, president of Tijuana’s Convention and Tourism Commission. “It’s even a trip when a lot of people travel. ”
Rodríguez says they expect a 50 % increase in the number of visitors compared to an average weekend.
That’s an extra 63,000 travellers to Baja, according to Rodríguez.
“On average, every visitor spends anywhere from$ 150 to$ 200 during their visit, ” he said. “We are concerned people may stay away due to the ongoing oil shortfall in the city, but we don’t view that will have a big impact since most visitors who drive energy up north of the border. ”
Rodríguez remains cheerful the number of guests in the Tijuana area will improve beyond this weekend.
During the first third of the year, Rodríguez and other officers noticed a significant drop in tourism as folks stayed apart because of severe weather.
As for the populations of the guests, Rodríguez says they’ve noticed that over the last 20 years or so, vacationers who do attend Baja are mainly of Mexican heritage.
“Eighty five percent are now Hispanic, ” Rodríguez said.
