Tijuana, Mexico
30 July 2009
Avenida Revolution, Tijuana's tourist district |
The once-crowded streets of Tijuana are now mostly empty. Tourists have been kept away by news stories of crime and drug wars in this Mexican border city of more than 1.5 million people.
Tijuana was not seriously affected by the epidemic of swine flu that struck other parts of Mexico earlier this year, but television images from far-off Mexico City have also scared off tourists.
Socorro Villavicenzio |
She says sales are down and fear of crime has kept away customers.
"How shall I say it? There are a lot of thieves," said Socorro Villavicencio. "That's why the police in the U.S., I see on the news, that they don't let the Americans cross the border because they say Mexico is dangerous."
Americans officials have urged caution, but no one is stopping tourists from coming here. The fact is, most do not want to.
Maria del Refugio Salazar |
"Hemming pants, sewing zippers on garments and other sewing projects, but to date we have done everything little by little [step by step]," said Maria del Refugio Salazar. "But what has given us the most results and the biggest economic gains has been the work we have done with sewing. "
In another part of town, Tijuana auto parts dealer Jose Juan Ramirez Bribiesca is also under pressure in the economic downturn, relying on small loans, which keep him in business.
Jose Juan Ramirez Bribiesca |
There have also been cutbacks in manufacturing at local production plants known as maquiladoras, operated by international companies using Mexican workers. Many of those companies have shifted production to Asia.
It all adds up to hardship, says Noe Martinez Vidal, director of the border project for World Vision. He says this small colonia, and many others like it, have soaring unemployment.
Noe Martinez Vidal |
For Tijuana's poor, life is hard, even in good times. Today, it is much harder.