Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - The perception among Arizonans is that Mexico is a dangerous place to go too.

The same holds true for folks in Sonora who are concerned about SB-1070.

A group of private business people hope to change that.

Tori Silva deals with people on both sides of the border. She attended today's meeting.
"We're facing the same challenges on both sides and we need to start working together as a united front."

People in Sonora who once came to Arizona to shop and vacation aren't coming across because of SB 1070.

So there's a real dilemma costing businesses on both sides big losses.

Alicia Martin owns La Roca restaurant in Nogales Sonora, and Wilson produce in Nogales Arizona.

Her restaurant once averaged 70 per cent American tourists and 30 per cent locals now it's flipped. "Too many people there's too many business that are being affected we can not continue in this momentum, we've gotta shift we gotta be the energy to make that shift."

That shift according to Felipe Garcia is to highlight the positive.

"We can not say we're going to change perception by doing a mass media campaign its impossible how you change perception is just to start showing stories on the good things, the positive that's happening."

So two websites will be created, I am Arizona, and Yo Soy Sonora. Miguel Torruco is president of the national federation of tourism for Mexico.

"The tourists will write on the website, and express their own experience to try and change this perception that is happening."

He says Sonoran sandy beaches are safe.

He does admit there are parts of Mexico where there is violence, but he adds, it's not in the tourist resorts.

The website will hopefully be up and running within a few weeks.