Spring Brings A 50-Mile Bike Ride

& New Tourist Assistance to Rosarito

Not only is April the time for the famous Rosarito-Ensenada bike ride, it is the first full month the city’s new Tourist Police force will be on duty, assisting the thousands of people that event brings to this area.

Coming on the heels of spring break, it looks like a great start to the season in which Rosarito welcomes most of its one million annual visitors.

The Tourist Police Have Arrived

In New Cars, 4-Wheelers & Bikes

City officials have launched Rosarito’s first Tourist Police Force to patrol those areas most frequented by the more than one million visitors per year to this beautiful seaside community just 30 miles south of San Diego.

The elite 18-member force, hand selected by Police Chief Jorge Montero to consist of his finest police officers, was inaugurated in a ceremony on March 14.

The force will patrol areas including the downtown, Puerto Nuevo Lobster Village and Popotla Boulevard, home to arts and crafts shops and Xploration Studios, where “Titanic” and other movies were filmed.

 “The city is the main host for our visitors and their security is our first priority,” said Hugo Torres, the new mayor of Rosarito.

The new tourist police will patrol in 12 specially marked 2007 Dodge Chargers equipped with cameras and purchased for $340,000, four ATVs and bicycles for patrolling beach areas.

Their gray and black uniforms will identify them as Policia Touristica.

“They will be very visible and very accessible,” Torres went on to say. Security, peace of mind and comfort for its visitors have become top priorities of the new administration.

 “We want people to know that we are doing everything possible to make our visitors feel secure and comfortable when they come here,” added Mayor Torres.

300 Rosarito Residents Volunteer

To Be “Extra Eyes” For Tourists

More than 300 residents here have volunteered to provide citizens’ watch services for the newly formed Citizen Council for Assistance to Tourists. They were sworn in at a March 4 ceremony at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.

 The group included a mixture of Mexican-born, expatriate residents of the city, tourism officials and local business people.

 This is another action of newly elected mayor, Hugo Torres to make the city more appealing for visitors and residents. Group members will watch for and report any problems that might affect visitors in Rosarito’s tourist areas.

“About 325 people have joined the group so far.” Torres said at the ceremony and pointed out that the huge response is indicative of the how highly people in the city value visitors.

 “This shows how much people care,” Torres said. Identification cards also were issued to members of the group. Anyone wanting to join should contact Marco Nuno from the Tourist Assistance Office at marco@rosarito.org.

New Ombudsman Office Open 24/7

     Rosarito Beach has also created a 24-hour-a-day ombudsman office to assist visitors with any problems, especially an accident or crime. Ricardo Moreno, an attorney, heads that office.

 In case of a crime occurring, he will fill out paperwork for them so it can be reported properly. Visitors can reach him at 661-612- 5071 (office), 664-261-5984, 152*159230*1 (Nextel) or by emailing him at ccspm_rosarito@yahoo.com.mx.

Good-Bye To President Cesar

Hello Laura & Gustavo

Baja Times Editor Laura Wong takes over as the new president of the Rosarito Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, replacing Cesar Rivera, general manager of Las Rocas, who stepped down after three distinguished years in the position.

 The installation ceremony was held on Wednesday, March 12, at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. Congratulations to Laura and thank you Cesar for a job well done.

Also, Gustavo Torres has been named the new director of the State Tourism Trust in Rosarito. Gustavo is also the immediate past president of the Rosarito Association of Real Estate Agents and owner of the highly successful ReMax office here. Congratulations Gustavo.

Students From A Boston College

Work to Promote Rosarito Beach

Eight graduate students from Emerson College in Boston visited Rosarito the weekend of March 7, 8 and 9 on a fact finding mission as part of a public affairs class project on promoting Rosarito.

Members of the class spoke with various leaders in government, business, tourism, health care, the media, and the community. Emerson College, founded in 1880, is internationally recognized for its excellence in the field of communications.

Professor Gregory Payne, a frequent visitor to Baja, wanted to do something to promote the region’s image as a safe and attractive option for tourists, conventions, real estate investments and for the soon-to-be-retiring baby boomers.

So he decided to make it a class project, called it “Rediscover Rosarito” and invited some of his students to come here, see for themselves and then design a public relations plan. The students paid their own way.

“Help that fell from the sky,” is what Mayor Hugo Torres said when they arrived. “We will be placing special emphasis on this work because it will represent a major support for the promotion of tourism.”

Upon their return to Boston, the students will share their findings with their colleagues and embark on phase two of their effort, creating strategies and tactics designed to improve the situation.

This will include interviews, ads and PSA campaigns, special events, forums and special programs coordinated with local campaigns. You can follow the Boston-based student effort on their website www.rediscoverosarito.org .

Making the trip from Boston were students: Mary Ann Cicala, Joe DeNisco, Konstantina Georgaki, Jerome Lewis, Leigh Larkin, Mary Malito, Sarah Moniz and Michael Paydos.

With or Without Wheels,

Bikes Are Big This Month

The 28^th Annual Spring Rosarito Ensenada Bike Race

Saturday, April 19 – Rosarito Ensenada Bike Race, 50 Mile Spring Fun Ride. For more information and to register go to www.rosaritoensenada.com or call 1-858-483-8777.

Every year for the past 28 years, tens of thousands of bike riders have gathered in Rosarito Beach to compete or just have fun in the Rosarito Ensenada Bike Ride. About 7,500 riders will peddle, coast and sweat their way through this award-winning 50 mile bicycle ride.

The course takes them mostly along the blue Pacific Ocean and slightly inland through beautiful rural countryside from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada.  At the finish many of them will gather at the Fiesta Line Fiesta on the Ensenada waterfront.

 It’s a great weekend escape for fun, exercise or just camaraderie.

“This has been a long-standing premier event for our city, and everyone is looking forward to having the thousands of riders and festive atmosphere they bring,” said Hugo Torres, the mayor of Rosarito Beach.

“We're glad they've made Rosarito their home base for these many years,” Torres added.

Spring MotoCross Series Round 3

Saturday, April 26 - Spring MotoCross Series Round 3 At La Cascada Rosarito, for more information go to www.toomuchfun.com.mx.

Please visit us in Rosarito Beach as we bring in spring. Other information about Rosarito activities is always available at www.rosarito.org.

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