Mexico - safety of travel from SAN to Tijuana?

Hi everyone,
Would like advice--I have been asked to accompany my boss, the owner of the company I work for, on a business trip to our operation in Tijuana.

We are both concerned about our safety as we have read of the kidnappings and violence in the area. My boss is a high net worth individual and I am wondering if it is wise to obtain some sort of U.S. based security to accompany us to and from the plant there.

Any thoughts? I haven't been in Mexico in years so am unsure as to how many precautions we should take.

Tijuana is certainly less safe now than in years past and of course never had a sterling reputation. None the less I go there fairly regularly and never really feel endangered. My take on the kidnapping threat is that Mexican nationals are by far at the greatest risk. I know some high income professional Mexicans in TJ and they are genuinely afraid. Mexican Americans with family ties to Mexico are at the next greatest risk. I don't feel ordinary tourists or for that matter non-Hispanic Americans in general face much of a kidnapping threat. The gangs know kidnapping an "ordinary" tourist will likely result in a far larger than average police and media response, no ransom paid, and ultimately a dead victim. Just not a profitable endeavor for a kidnapping gang.

As for a high net worth owner of a company there? That probably is a somewhat greater risk than an ordinary tourist. If it we ME, I would just use common sense and keep a relatively low profile and I wouldn't worry to much about it. I would assume you have on site management there that you trust. They face the local threats daily. I would just defer to their judgment as to what level of security was appropriate.

Tijuana is certainly less safe now than in years past and of course never had a sterling reputation. None the less I go there fairly regularly and never really feel endangered. My take on the kidnapping threat is that Mexican nationals are by far at the greatest risk. I know some high income professional Mexicans in TJ and they are genuinely afraid. Mexican Americans with family ties to Mexico are at the next greatest risk. I don't feel ordinary tourists or for that matter non-Hispanic Americans in general face much of a kidnapping threat. The gangs know kidnapping an "ordinary" tourist will likely result in a far larger than average police and media response, no ransom paid, and ultimately a dead victim. Just not a profitable endeavor for a kidnapping gang.

As for a high net worth owner of a company there? That probably is a somewhat greater risk than an ordinary tourist. If it we ME, I would just use common sense and keep a relatively low profile and I wouldn't worry to much about it. I would assume you have on site management there that you trust. They face the local threats daily. I would just defer to their judgment as to what level of security was appropriate.
I agree completely with Mabuk that it is important to keep a low profile and to just use common sense while traveling in the border area. I've been traveling to Tijuana and environs for thirty years and have never experienced any threatening situations or threatening individuals. Try to maintain a relaxed and comfortable composure while visiting there. Be certain you know where you are going and don't get off the beaten track.

As for a high net worth owner of a company there? That probably is a somewhat greater risk than an ordinary tourist. If it we ME, I would just use common sense and keep a relatively low profile and I wouldn't worry to much about it. I would assume you have on site management there that you trust. They face the local threats daily. I would just defer to their judgment as to what level of security was appropriate.

Exactly! Hiring visible security is likely to make your boss MORE of a target!

Exactly! Hiring visible security is likely to make your boss MORE of a target!

Great idea! This is really need our help to protect you with security officers will be armed. If you are in Mexico. You must to be more cautions to keep bad people off the streets. It will be very extremely dangerous out there. You have need to be more carefully what are you doing in Mexico.

Safety conditions in Tijuana have worsened considerably during the past few months. Unless it is absolutely imperative that you go there, please don't go. Based on what I read in the San Diego Union Tribune, I will no longer venture to a place I used to enjoy immensely. It is a shame that the thousands of vendors along Avenida Revelucion are pretty much out of business and will be until the local government can take back the city.

Safety conditions in Tijuana have worsened considerably during the past few months. Unless it is absolutely imperative that you go there, please don't go. Based on what I read in the San Diego Union Tribune, I will no longer venture to a place I used to enjoy immensely. It is a shame that the thousands of vendors along Avenida Revelucion are pretty much out of business and will be until the local government can take back the city.

This seems to me to be an over-reaction. What you read in the UT is not representative - news is by definition not representative.

I know several people (caucasian and asian) who travel regularly to TJ, and continue to do so without particular concern or worry.

This seems to me to be an over-reaction. What you read in the UT is not representative - news is by definition not representative.

I know several people (caucasian and asian) who travel regularly to TJ, and continue to do so without particular concern or worry.
I fully appreciate your point of view. However, for me personally, I will no longer cross the border into any Mexican border town until I'm convinced things have changed. On the other hand, I was recently in Mexico City for a few days and had no particular safety concerns. I attended university in Mexico for a year as an exchange student in the '60's and lived with a wonderful family. Mexico will always be my second country, but that doesn't mean I'm going to put my life in peril.

Safety conditions in Tijuana have worsened considerably during the past few months.
To come here or not is of course a personal decision and I do not fault you for avoiding the area. If I were a tourist I would avoid Tijuana, not so much for the insecurity situation but because downtown has truly turned into a mess... things really have to be reborn there so it turns into something dignified.

However, as a resident and someone who experiences the city every day as opposed to reading about it in the newspaper, I cannot say things have gotten worse during the past months. In fact I dare say things are better than what they were a year ago or such.

If somebody has to come down here on business, there really should be no reason to worry. Just be alert of your surroundings. The bad things you read about in the papers usually happens amongst people in the "business". Otherwise I'm not sure Tijuana is any more dangerous than Rio or Caracas.