Tourism Benefits Business on Both Sides of Border
Region’s Visitors Experience Two Cultures, Two Nations
BY C. SAMUEL MARASCO
Special to the Business Journal
All businesses want to be where the action is and where the money flows.
Today, the San Diego-Tijuana border region is the perfect “location” for business because the border provides the best of two worlds. Every day, a quarter of a million people cross at San Ysidro , and many of those crossing are tourists ready to shop, dine and experience the two cultures, two nations.
Developers and businesses that operate in San Ysidro have access to the largest array of business incentives available anywhere in the San Diego. The San Diego business development zones , the South Bay Enterprise Zone and the San Ysidro Redevelopment Project Area , encourage investment by giving companies an edge in the marketplace, helping them expand and prosper.
For instance, some businesses may claim certain state income tax savings as well as reductions in development fees and access to specialized technical and financial assistance programs. There has never been a better time to consider opportunities in this prime location.
– Tourists Can Take Two-Nation Vacation
The border region is an exciting and attractive location for business because of the blending of two cultures and its close proximity to Downtown San Diego, the U.S-Mexico border and major tourist attractions available on both sides of the border. For instance, the border region is the perfect location for retailers , attracting both the “shopping” tourist and the diverse daily consumer.
Also, border restaurants are open typically longer hours than California restaurants due to the mixing of cultures and different eating schedules. Latinos tend to have extended lunches and dine late at night compared to the San Diego tourist/resident.
Hotels that are located close to the border attract not only the national and local tourist but also the international tourist and international business travelers.
San Diego and Mexico’s economies both thrive on tourism. San Diego is the fifth-largest leisure and travel market in the United States and this ranking does not include the drawing power of nearby Baja California tourist destinations.
Nowhere else can tourists take advantage of the entertainment and cultural festivities ranging from SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo to bargain shopping along Avenida Revolucion in Tijuana or experiencing seaside golf resorts throughout San Diego and Mexico.
– Area Benefits From Diversity
San Diego’s economy is fortunate to not have been too badly affected by the recession. One of the reasons for San Diego’s buoyancy is that tourism has remained strong in San Diego. Even after Sept. 11, San Diego was the No. 1 vacation choice for 18 million Southern California travelers who would rather drive than fly. Additionally, the housing market has remained strong because San Diego County’s residents are international in scope, thus attracting world citizens.
Furthermore, the construction industry is thriving with major public and quasi-public projects such as state Route 125, the Padres’ new ballpark, the SeaWorld expansion and the zoo’s renovations.
Since the volume of trade is increasing between California and Mexico and is expected to increase even more due to advances in public policy led by President Bush and President Vicente Fox, businesses should strive to be a part of the growing economy at the San Diego-Tijuana border. The San Diego and Tijuana communities are moving into a new century of shared opportunity.
Marasco is president/CEO of LandGrant Development.
