### Merchants in Zona Centro Report Low Sales During Summer Season
Merchants in the Zona Centro area have reported disappointing sales figures during this summer vacation period, said Carlos Robles Literas, President of the Association of Merchants of Avenida Revolución.
Carlos Robles noted that this time of year is typically one of the most lucrative for local businesses due to an influx of both local visitors and tourists from San Diego and San Ysidro. However, despite anticipating a 30% increase in sales, merchants are only seeing a 10-15% rise in economic activity.
“The sales have neither skyrocketed nor plummeted. We usually witness a 30% increase in weekend sales during summer, but this time, the best we’ve seen is a modest 10-15% increase, which falls short of our expectations,” explained Robles.
Even with the recent variations in the dollar’s value, there haven’t been substantive changes compared to previous projections. Current exchange rates see the dollar selling at 18.80 and buying at 19.57, varying between different exchange houses in the city.
“I thought it would be much better because exchange rates are favorable, allowing tourists from San Diego to spend more,” Robles added.
### Additional Insights: Factors Influencing Lower Summer Sales
In further analysis of Tijuana’s retail landscape, several factors might be contributing to lower-than-expected sales. The fluctuating exchange rates, while generally favorable, have perhaps not provided enough economic incentive to spur a more significant influx of tourism-driven spending.
Additionally, stricter regulations on street vendors are affecting the overall revenue distribution. The Canirac Tijuana has mandated that street vendors comply with the “Grease Trap” initiative, ensuring environmental safety but also possibly reducing quick-resale opportunities that street vending often provides.
Meanwhile, larger economic concerns, such as limited growth capacity of Mexican businesses as observed by Coparmex, are also casting a shadow on the optimistic outlook of merchants. Parallel to this, the proposal to create a Tourist Prosecutor’s Office to address crimes against visitors underscores underlying security concerns that may be deterring tourist spending.
Efforts are ongoing to resolve broader infrastructural issues. The Ayuntamiento de Tijuana is in the process of securing a significant 700-million-peso bank credit to reconstruct degraded streets in the Otay Industrial Zone. Such enhancements are hoped to ultimately create a more appealing environment for both merchants and visitors alike.
Despite these challenges, the government continues to stress the importance of safety and health during the summer season, issuing recommendations to prevent risks associated with high temperatures.
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