The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted Mexico’s tourism industry, which saw a sharp decline in 2020 due to travel restrictions and health concerns. It was especially noticeable in the northern border city, Tijuana, which experienced a 30% decrease in border crossings between the US and Mexico.
As a gateway to Mexico, Tijuana boasts three ports of entry: San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Tecate — together the world’s busiest ports. By the time the travel restrictions lifted in 2022, tourism had rebounded, and these three ports combined welcomed some 50 million people from both the US and Mexico.
This modern and dynamic city, however, is more than just a border city for travelers passing through, it is a popular destination in and of itself — and not just for college kids. Tijuana is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in Mexico, the second most populous city, and the center of the sixth-largest metropolitan area. It is brimming with culture, history, industry, and some of the best hospitals in the country.
Tijuana also has a reputation for being a high crime area, scoring 10.44x on the Pinkerton Crime Index. To put this into perspective, PCI crime risk scores are multiples of the national median crime risk of 1.0x. A score of 0.5x equals half the risk, and a score of 10.0x equals ten times the crime risk. The most common crimes are larceny and robbery, followed by burglary.
While PCI cannot predict if you will be the victim of a crime, it is critical to know your crime risk so you can make informed decisions, such as where to stay and where to play.
If you plan to travel to Tijuana from San Diego, California, USA — whether by airplane, bus, train, passenger car, or as a pedestrian walking across the border — take precautions and maintain situational awareness.
Be safe. Know your risk.
Read more about crime risk in Mexico’s most visited cities and Mexico’s other Movers and Shakers — Cancun and Monterrey.
