The death of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera has triggered violence and raised safety concerns, contributing to a noticeable drop in tourism across Baja California’s key destinations.
After Jalisco cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera was killed on Feb. 22, his henchmen, as a warning, retaliated with acts of arson and vandalism in 22 Mexican states.
In Northern Baja California, 19 vehicles were set on fire along with 12 businesses and shops.
The mayhem lasted one day, but it left a lasting impression.
According to Robert Lyle Fritch, president of Business Council in Tijuana, the impacts continue to be felt by the tourism industry in Baja California, which is reporting a drop in visitors since Oseguera’s killing.
“The effects have been considerable in terms of hotel stays, reservations are down, the medical tourism is also feeling it, the drop is considerbable, they’re feeling a strong impact related to what happened a week ago Sunday,” Lyle Fritch said.
He said popular tourist destinations such as the wine country in Valle de Guadalupe southeast of Tijuana has been losing visitors ever since “El Mencho” was killed.
Lyle Fritch says this is on the heels of a 15-percent drop late last year in the number of tourists to the Valley and the coastal town of Ensenada.
“Keep in mind, 40 percent of visitors to those areas are people from the United States,” he said.
According to Lyle Fritch, the entire Northern Baja region is safe and is offering great deals to visitors.
