As murders decline, Juarez works to attract visitors to the border city

The number of murders in Ciudad Juarez has sharply declined from the peak drug war days and now the city is working to attract visitors once again.

“We have to keep working and working and working and bringing people into the area,” said Jose Arturo Ramos Andujo, executive in charge of projects for the border city.

He may just have one of the hardest jobs in Ciudad Juarez these days.

“If things were like they were three years ago yeah it would be hard,” said Ramos.

During a recent tour of the city, he pointed to all the new businesses as proof the city had recovered from years of drug violence.

“If you’re seeing a boom in Juarez security is good,” said Ramos.

Murders have declined sharply from 3,075 in 2010 to 487 in 2013.

Still perceptions of the city as a dangerous place persist.

“I quit going over there five or six years ago because of all the homicides and stuff that was going on over there,” said Henry Dominguez.

Texans and tourists alike used to visit Ciudad Juarez to shop, enjoy restaurants and bars. Others crossed the border for low cost prescription drugs or dental work.

“I don’t think I’ll be going to Juarez anytime soon unless I’m abducted and taken over there, said Dominguez chuckling.

But others are open to the idea of returning to Ciudad Juarez.

“It’s safe. I think it’s safe,” said Donald Jones, an El Paso resident.

“You know a lot of people think they’re going to get hit by a stray bullet or something like that. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” said Jones.

“Juarez is a city right now is very calm,” said Ramos driving along an avenue lined with small restaurants, bars and shops.

Overhead a huge billboard announced in English the opening of a new “Gastro Pub.”

The city has big plans for downtown which was a major destination for visitors. The development includes, “a big shopping center, stores, restaurants for the US because it’s on the border by the bridge,” said Ramos.

Five major investors have expressed interest in the plan including Carlos Slim, Latin America’s wealthiest man. In the past, Slim partnered with Mexico City’s government to renovate the capital’s historic downtown.

And for the first time the city of Juarez will open visitor center on the Texas side of the border and offer transportation back and forth from El Paso to Juarez.

“We have to sell the two biggest border cities in the world. That’s what we have,” said Ramos.

The Juarez native is convinced after years of staying away visitors will return and the city will once again attract tourists.

“We’ll get up from the ashes and we’ll make a great city, a great city for everybody to come and visit.”