Tijuana's Tourism and Conventions Committee is offering tourists who visit the city a pass to cross the border back to San Diego more quickly. Long border waits, the economic downturn and the drug war have crippled tourism. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.
The pass allows drivers to enter a special lane that cuts into the border line about thirty cars from the crossing.
Jadiel Vargas directs Tijuana's Toursim and Conventions Committee. He says that should cut wait times down to less than 40 minutes.
Jadiel Vargas: So that's an incentive to come back. We're trying to reward all of our visitors. They're coming back to Tijuana and they're still coming to Tijuana in spit of all those rumors of the violence and in spite of that long crossing time to the United States.
Visitors must frequent one of sixteen businesses in Tijuana, Rosarito or Ensenada to get a pass.
They show it and their receipt to a Tijuana policeman who guards the lane.
Tourists have not been killed in the drug war in Tijuana. The violence has not hit tourists areas.
Amy Isackson, KPBS news.
