Rosarito Beach Security Q&A

Rosarito Beach, the popular Spring Break destination is preparing to welcome hundreds of students from different U. S. Universities.

Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres is expecting a good Spring Break Season this year, because the government took actions to improve security and tourist attention, while they are in the area.
Mayor Torres answered some questions to clarify what is the actual situation in Rosarito.

01.-What is Rosarito offering to the Spring Breakers?
Rosarito is offering sandy beaches, outdoor activities, delicious food, great shopping, accommodations, hospitality, entertainment, affordable prices and fun.

02.-Is it safe to visit Rosarito?
Rosarito is safer than ever before. We created the Tourist Police Force, a bilingual new group of young officers to protect and help visitors, and a Tourist Attention Office, working 24/7 for any incidents our visitors may have during their stay in Rosarito.

03.-Do you have any advice for the Spring Break Students?
They must use common sense like when visiting any city in the world; stay always within the tourist areas; avoid dark-isolated areas, and stay close to their friends.

04. - Are there any other rules tourist have to observe during their visit to Rosarito?
Do not drink nor carry open liquor bottles in the streets or when driving; drugs and firearms are not allowed in Mexico, and respect traffic signals. If someone gets stopped by the police, they must ask for the bilingual traffic ticket. They can pay the bilingual traffic ticket fine with a U.S. check from home. Fines are converted to dollars at the back of the ticket.

05. - Is violence affecting tourists?
Not a single tourist has been affected by serious crime in the last year. Publicized violence is not directed against common citizens or visitors. It is a battle amongst drug cartels always very far away from the tourist areas.

Dr. Jim Gerber Director of Latin American Studies at San Diego State University recently wrote an article about violence in border cities and how it is affecting people on both sides of the border. This in an excerption of the article:

“The murder rate in Tijuana is less than 40 per 100,000, which puts it between Oakland, CA and St. Louis, MO. That is high, but less than Baltimore and Detroit (mid-40s) and well below New Orleans (65 to 95, depending on who you talk to). New Orleans is a great place to visit, and we have yet to meet anyone who decided not to go due to its murder rate.”
“In addition to crossing the border fairly frequently, we have talked at length to our colleagues at various institutions throughout the border region, all of whom assure us that although crime has increased, our students, colleagues and average US citizen are not targets any more than are average Mexican citizens and they look forward to our continued interactions with them.”

“San Diego FBI Agent Keith Slotter has been telling parents for nearly a year that college kids have generally not been targets, but adds that they should be told to keep a low profile and be aware of their surroundings.” Abc News – USA \ Feb. 27, 2009

If you need more information about Rosarito dial U. S. Toll Free: 1800-962-BAJA or log onto: www.rosarito.org