The restaurant industry in Tijuana is facing a downturn, with many establishments going bankrupt and experiencing reduced sales due to a decline in customers from north of the border.
According to Giovanny Angulo, head of the restaurant division of Tijuana’s Chamber of Commerce, visits have dropped by as much as 30 percent since the beginning of the year.
Angulo notes that the lack of tourists is causing numerous restaurants to close and lay off employees.
“We don’t have an exact number of restaurant closures since not all are part of our organization, but I speak with restaurateurs daily and we’ve observed this trend,” Angulo said. “Current sales are similar to what we saw two years ago, with no growth.”
Angulo attributes this decline to two main factors: the perception that Tijuana is still a dangerous place to visit and the long waits to cross the border, which people prefer to avoid.
“In Tijuana, unlike other cities, we heavily rely on economic boosts from U.S. visitors, and right now is not a favorable time.”
To counteract this, restaurant owners have been promoting themselves through various food festivals. Recently, the Caesar Salad festival celebrated the 100th anniversary of the salad’s invention in Tijuana, and the Paella Festival is scheduled for the end of September.
Source: Fox San Diego
