Introducing Xuani, Tijuana’s New (Sigh) Tourism Mascot
Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 02.21.07 | 1:53 PM ET
You have to feel for Tijuana tourism officials. The Mexican border city is plagued by murders and drug trafficking. And what of the city’s police force? Officers recently had their guns taken away from them by federal officials investigating organized crime. Yes, visiting Tijuana is a tough sell these days, especially for families on holiday in San Diego. But Tijuana officials think they’ve come up with a way to spit-shine the city’s image: a mascot. Meet Xuani, a cuddly costumed character representing a mix of Mexico’s native Indians. With his bright smile and fuzzy red-and-hello hat, Xuani will stroll along touristy Revolution Avenue, past the sad painted zebras and strip clubs, and, as the San Diego Union-Tribune put it in paraphrasing one official, “provide a more positive representation of the city’s offerings.”
I love Tijuana and want to see the city prosper. But as cute as he is, I don’t think Xuani is the answer to Tijuana’s tourism woes.
Call me crazy, but the folkloric presentations, merchant discounts and university students answering tourists’ questions—all part of the new “Tijuana Amiga” program—won’t do it, either. Tijuana has a vibrant, edgy arts scene and great restaurants, which could be big draws for adventurous Americans. Unfortunately, most of that is to be found off Revolution Avenue, in parts of Tijuana that tourism officials are doing little to promote.
So tourism in the city will continue to limp along—albeit now with a grinning Xuani at its side.
Related on World Hum:
* Smackdown in Tijuana
* Honoring ‘Babel’
* Border Stories
Photo by DMBFreakNo41, via flickr. Rights: Creative Commons.
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Jim Benning is the editor and co-founder of World Hum.
TambourineMan 02.21.07 | 10:20 PM ET
Oh, Jesus. Xuani looks like a creature from a bad acid trip.
I’m not a big TJ fan, but I love Mexico. Maybe I’ll take a look at your past stories, Jim, and give it another shot one of these days.
Jim 02.22.07 | 3:29 AM ET
It’s worth checking out, TambourineMan. Holler before your next trip south and I’ll happily make a few suggestions.
TambourineMan 02.22.07 | 10:39 PM ET
Will do.
I read your lucha libre story last night. Good stuff. Also saw you tooting your own horn in your write-up on the new Travelers Tales book. Congratulations.