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- What is the background of the Center's research ... ?
- What types of studies are conducted by the
Center ... ?
- How do I get a copy of the Center's research
results ... ?
- Who uses the information ... ?
- What is the future of tourism in the Valley... ?
For over 25 years, faculty of the College of Business Administration has
performed field research on the markets that exist in the Rio Grande Valley.
Some of this research has focused specifically on Winter Texans, with recent studies addressing
Mexican national tourism, ecotourism, historical tourism, and local resident
perceptions concerning Valley issues and the Center has been responsible for
conducting and maintaining results of this research.
What types of studies are conducted by the Center... ?
We perform a variety of studies depending upon the current issues and
needs for market and tourism research in the Valley. Every two years during the
early spring we conduct mall-intercept surveys to assess the growth,
economic impact, and trends in the industry. We also survey RV/MH
managers and operators as well as local residents to access their
perceptions and attitudes regarding tourism and other important issues in the Valley. On and
ad hoc basis we also conduct other studies relevant to Valley markets,
Valley business and tourism.
Typically, when we do a study we provide a short summary or press
release that is available free of charge. The full reports, which are
usually quite long, are available for a fee to pay for the costs and
reproduction. The full reports are usually bought by businesses
interested in Valley markets and can be obtained by contacting the
Valley Markets and Tourism Research Center at University of Texas-Pan American (956 381-3395) or
contact us by e-mail at
pmsimpson@utpa.edu. In addition, we publish results in many of the
academic tourism publications.
Information collected by the Center is used by a wide variety of
individuals and organizations form local investors, realtors, park
owners, professional tourism consultants to organizations such as the
Texas Recreational Vehicle Association, local chambers, and state and
local governments, particularly the Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Texas Department of Economic
Development. Results are published in local and state newspapers as well
as newspapers and magazines across the nation. Results have also
appeared in Fortune and the Wall Street Journal.
Tourism is recognized as a major driving force of the Valley's
economy, especially since tourism provides a stable, dependable source
of new dollars to the area each year. For example, the average growth
rate of Winter Texans to the area for the past six years is close to 6
percent per year with almost an 18 percent annual growth in
expenditures. Since today's retirees are increasing in number, more
financially secure, have better health, and live longer than their
predecessors, there is every reason to believe the phenomenal growth
rate we have been experiencing with the Winter Texans will continue for
the near future. While NAFTA tended to open up the flow of goods and
services into Mexico and Latin America, we haven't seen a decline in
visitors or dollars spent in the Rio Grande Valley from these visitors.
Our south of the border visitors may have shifted their type of
purchases, but they are still coming in large numbers and spending more.
By combining Winter Texans and Mexican Nationals visitors with those
"other" tourists interested in ecotourism, recreational, and historical
interests available in this area, the future of the tourism industry in
the Valley is indeed bright.
Copyright © 2005 Valley Markets and Tourism Research Center. All rights reserved.
Revised: 09/12/05.
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