Friday, May 30, 2008

Governor Meets With Mexico’s President, Administration Officials on Issues of Mutual Interest to U.S-Mexico Border Region

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Arnold Schwarzenegger

5/29/2008
Today, as part of a two-day trip to Mexico City and in his capacity as chair of the 26th Annual Border Governor's Conference, Governor Schwarzenegger met with President Felipe Calderón and governors from U.S. and Mexican border states. Governor Schwarzenegger also attended a series of meetings with Mexican federal officials today including the Secretaries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Economy, Treasury, Communications and Transportation, Social Development, Environment and the Director General of the National Council for Science and Technology to build support on issues relating to trade, the environment and security.In August, Governor Schwarzenegger will chair the 26th Annual Border Governor's Conference, themed "Building Green Economies," in Hollywood, California. The conference will be attended by governors from Arizona, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, New Mexico, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Texas. At the conference, these states will address the many cross-border issues impacting them, including agriculture, security, economic development, education, energy, environment, health and tourism. The Governor is committed to continuing to build California's relationship with Mexico. This week's trip builds on the Governor's efforts to open new markets, attract new investments and build the partnerships necessary to expand California's international trade with Mexico, pump up the state's economy and improve the environment on both sides of the border. In the last couple years, the Governor has:
Led a delegation of border governors in meetings with cabinet officials in Washington D.C. in February.
Hosted México President Calderón in Sacramento in February and signed an MOU to boost collaboration on environmental protection between California and Mexico.
Participated in the 25th Border Governors Conference in September 2007 in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, and signed a joint declaration to continue fostering cooperation between the border states.
Offered critical assistance to México following devastating floods in southern Mexico in November 2007.
Led more than 60 members of the agriculture, tourism and business communities on a two-day trade mission to Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico in November 2006.
Strengthening ties with Mexico is key to our current and future economic health. Boosting trade, tourism and goods movement between California and Mexico creates jobs and helps our economies grow.
Mexico is California's top trade partner. Mexico is California's number one export market, with $19.6 billion in export trade flowing to Mexico from California. These exports sustain thousands of California businesses and support nearly 200,000 jobs.
Since 2002, California's agricultural exports to Mexico have nearly doubled in value, making it one of the state's fastest growing export markets. Mexico alone accounts for 15 percent of California's annual goods exports.
California's agricultural exports to Mexico represent an estimated 5 percent of the total U.S. agricultural exports to this market.
Mexico is California's top international tourism market. According to the California Travel and Tourism Commission, California had approximately 8.6 million Mexican visitors in 2005.
While here, visitors from Mexico spent an estimated $1.6 billion in California, ranking first among all international markets.

Calif. Senate approves third border crossing with Mexico

ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:03 p.m. May 29, 2008
SACRAMENTO – San Diego County can build a toll-crossing into Mexico to ease congestion at existing crossings under a bill approved by the state Senate.
The bill permits the San Diego Association of Governments to build and operate Highway 11 and a new federal Otay Mesa East Port of Entry. The project would be funded with bonds repaid by a toll on those crossing the international border.
Sen. Denise Ducheny, a Democrat from San Diego, says the state needs a third border crossing because of long lines and delays at existing crossings.
Although the crossing would be a public-private partnership, Ducheny says the state would own the highway.
The measure passed 33-2 on Thursday without spoken opposition. It now goes to the Assembly.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Rosarito Beach - Improved Memorial Weekend Tourism

Rosarito Beach saw an improved memorial weekend tourism this year 2008 compared to previous years. In response, the town government center issued this communique:
This seaside city 20 miles south of San Diego had a better than expected turnout this Memorial Day weekend despite cooler weather, a tourism official said.
“Hotel occupancy was down slightly more than 20 percent from last year,” said Rosarito Convention & Visitors Bureau President Laura Wong. ‘That’s an improvement from Spring Break and is better than we expected with the less than perfect weather.”
“It is a hopeful sign for the summer,” she added.
Wong said the better-than expected turnout likely indicates that visitors are overcoming security concerns raised by media reports connected to the government’s crackdown on drug cartels.
“I believe people are realizing a few highly publicized incidents do not impact visitor safety,” she said. “With actions taken recently, Baja is safer than ever for its millions of visitors.”
As was the case with Spring Break and the Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride in April, no major crimes against visitors were reported. “It was basically another incident-free weekend,” Wong said.
Steps taken by new Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres to increase visitor security and comfort also have helped tourism rebound, Wong said. Those include establishing a Tourist Police Force and an ombudsman’s office to assist visitors.
The Convention & Visitors Bureau also had two information booths during the weekend, one on downtown Boulevard Benito Juarez and one in the Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village.

http://quepasabaja.com/?p=530

Rosarito Beach: Four Great Total Experiences For 2008

BY http://www.travbuddy.com

Rosarito Beach, the jewel of Baja’s Gold Coast, will offer up to six writers on assignment its four-day, three-night Total Experience tour four times during 2008. Dates for the visits are Jan. 25-28, April 25-28; July 16-19; and Oct. 20-23.
A scenic 18 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, Rosarito Beach is known for its stunning seaside setting, a rich history, festive nightlife, Puerto Nuevo lobster village, wonderful shopping and as the setting for movies including “Titanic” and “Master & Commander.”
Rosarito Beach is the spa capital of Baja, a food lover’s delight, plus the home to a thriving community of artists and artisans. Outdoor activities abound, including surfing, golf, off-roading and horseback riding. Rosarito Beach also is the focal point for a building boom attracting thousands of people from the U.S. About 14,000 expatriates call Rosarito home.
The Total Experience is designed for writers to sample a taste of it all. Available stories range from general travel articles, to ones on culture and history, spas, arts and crafts, outdoor recreation, food and many more.
Writers stay at the world-famous Rosarito Beach Hotel, which has hosted stars from Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra.
Other Total Experience activities include a visit to XPloration (filming locale for “Titanic and many others), sessions at the gorgeous Las Rocas Resort & Spa, a Puerto Nuevo lobster dinner, area tours and cultural attractions.
Activities are coordinated but allow writers time to pursue individual interests, as well as just relax, enjoy the ocean setting or simply shop.
“Rosarito Beach: The Total Experience” is open to published writers with a firm letter of assignment from an editor. Writers representing travel magazines, publications with circulations of 100,000 or more and those based in the Southwest will be given preference.
What’s included: Lodging; scheduled breakfasts, lunches and dinners; Xploration tour; and transportation to activities (also shuttle service from San Diego to Rosarito Beach and back if needed).
What’s not included: airfare, gratuities and miscellaneous expenses. Accommodations can be shared by one guest per writer, but guest expenses other than lodging will not be covered.
If interested, please submit letter of assignment (please include brief description of publication, editor contact information and estimated publication date) and three clips to Ron Raposa (ronraposa@hotmail.com) at least three weeks before the scheduled tour, indicating which trip you would like to join. Early application is encouraged.

VIP Distinguished Visitor Card Offered By City Of Rosarito Beach

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA--- The seaside community of Rosarito Beach, just 18 miles south of the border from San Diego, is rolling out the red carpet for its approximately one-million-plus annual visitors.
New Mayor Hugo Torres in his on-going campaign to improve the community and make it more desirable for tourists, along with the Rosarito Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, have implemented a new program: the city’s first Distinguished Visitor Card.
The VIP card will identify cardholders and entitle them to special discounts on everything from hotels and dining to shopping at local galleries, craft, leather, pottery, perfume and other merchants in the area who have chosen to participate.“We wanted to provide visitors who frequent Rosarito Beach something to let them know how special they are to us and how much we appreciate them coming here,” said Mayor Torres.
“It is designed to provide our visitors with a whole new world of special bargains on almost everything in Rosarito Beach, from all of the great shopping to soothing spa treatments and lobster dinners in Puerto Nuevo,” he said,In addition to providing discounts, the card also contains helpful information such as phone numbers and web links for Tourist Assistance plus other useful information when visiting Rosarito Beach.
The Distinguished Visitor Card is free and can be easily obtained at the Rosarito Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, at participating merchants or by going to the website http://www.rosarito.org/vip and filling out a form.
The card will be mailed to the applicant’s home or place of business. The website contains a list of all of the participating merchants and will be updated as more merchants are added to the program. The card is honored wherever the city of Rosarito Beach logo is displayed.
The VIP card comes just in time for the summer season. The city is gearing up to implement the program which has not only received endorsement from the entire city government and mayor’s office but also the Baja California State Tourism Board.
This program is all part of the “new Rosarito” that Mayor Torres promised.“It is simply an extension of our Mexican culture, the ‘Mi casa, su casa’ mentality that promotes Old World hospitality and charm and makes Baja and especially Rosarito Beach a very special place to vacation and visit,” said Mayor Torres. Now, in addition to the spectacular sunsets, surfing, fishing, dining, and shopping, couples and families alike can save money with their Distinguished Visitor Card and enjoy an even more memorable experience.
For more information on the Rosarito Beach Distinguished Visitor Card, go to http://www.rosarito.org/vip