"Vamos a Tijuana" a Tijuana Travel Page by spartan

Tijuana lies just in the northwest corner of Baja California along the Pacific Ocean and the Mexico-U.S. border, 12 miles south of San Diego, California. From being a ranch settled on part of a land grant in 1862, Tijuana developed as a border resort with gambling casinos and related activities during the 1920s as a consequence of the prohibition in the U.S. Its fast recent growth, however, is due to steady industrialization. In fact, Tijuana's population has been growing up since 1950, rather accelerating from 1970 to 1995, a period in which the city population grew at an annual rate of 5.0%. In 2000, city population added up 1,212,232, 48.7% of Baja California total.

Tijuana is the site for the largest concentration of maquiladora firms in the state and the country. By May 1996, 516 plants provided jobs for 108,282 persons. Many of the most important U.S. and Asian firms run plants located in the city’s industrial districts, where an extensive variety of electrical household appliances, such as videocasssete, recorders and televisions, are assembled. Due to this amazing economic transformation, Tijuana is nowadays known as "TV City", in fact, the biggest TV manufacturer center in the world.

Tijuana economic activity also flourishes with trade, tourism and other services. An slogan for it is "the most visited city in the world"; in 1995, its borderline was crossed over more than 50 million times.

Entertainment, amusement, fun, and then more of the same: Tijuana, the gateway to Baja California's gold coast is less than 30 minutes from downtown San Diego. A little taste of Mexico and much more, because Tijuana has much to offer in the way of attractions and entertainment. On the one hand, you'll find museums, art galleries, and the Cultural Center, where you can enjoy both permanent and temporary art exhibits and other expositions, along with theatrical productions, and the fascinating films presented by the Omnimax Planetarium.

Proven hospitality: Hospitality and good service are the by-word of the many hotels in the area, which range from budget to top of the line accommodations at very attractive prices. Whether you come to Tijuana with your family, a companion, or on business, you can choose anything from basic lodging to luxury suites, and enjoy a comfortable and pleasant stay, with that added touch of friendly Mexican hospitality. If you are in need of any medical attention, Tijuana also features some fine medical centers, plastic surgery centers, hospitals, and medical facilities.

Arts and Handcrafts: Take a stroll along Tijuana's famed Avenida Revolución, breathe in the ambiance of typical Mexico, shop for authentic Mexican handicrafts, colonial style furniture and artistic works replete with native folklore; and while there engage in a bit of classical haggling over price.

Shopper's Paradise: Then switch from traditional to modern, with a visit to the city's lovely, tree-lined Zona Río, where shopping of every kind awaits you amidst the most up-to-date surroundings. The Zona Río is one of the best examples of the growth and modernization of the city of Tijuana. Its shopping centers contain exclusive department stores and specialty shops, offering fine perfumes, clothing, jewelry and imported items from every part of the world.

Purchases made in Mexico are duty free and there is no state sales tax. Each shopper can bring back $400 worth of merchandise, including one liter of alcohol (if over 21), 100 cigars (excluding Cuban), and 200 cigarettes. The US duty is a flat 10 percent for the first $1,000 of merchandise above your $400 allowance. US Dollars, pesos, and major credit cards are accepted.