The entrance to Acuña has become surreal. The city continues to build a new plaza at the entrance to the business area. Inspections of vehicles entering Acuña have increased. City workers have enhanced the appearance of the tourist area with wrought iron banners. Fiber optic cable is being laid along the tourist area. Yet, there has not been tourism here for years, because of the reports of border violence. Many businesses remain closed. Some are padlocked and empty of goods. The ‘for sale’ and ‘for rent’ signs are common. Several old families have left Acuña. At least one of the founding families rented out their store and are living in Del Rio (they enjoy dual citizenship).
Rumors are everywhere that the cause is that cartels have kidnapped, extorted money and threatened violence in the tourist area. The business community insists that it is simply economics. The American media has crushed tourism so completely that some say it will take 10-years of fair reporting and no violence for tourism to recover.
Sadly, it seems like the city is preparing a tourist area that will only lack two things: tourist shops and restaurants and actual tourists.
