Almot wrote:
Pretty slow in Baja. Many reasons, I don't think $US/CAD exchange rate is to blame since Canadians are less than 1/3 of seasonal campers. Slow economy in both US and Canada - it picked up a little, then stopped and expected to decline a little now. US gas prices dropped but still pretty high compared to 5-10 years ago, and wages and pensions didn't increase for years. In Mexico, as you know, the govt withdrew the subsidy on gasoline and it now costs more than in California.
RV-ing is losing its appeal. Wilderness (or what looks like wilderness) is disappearing, giving place to developments. People with money are buying homes, land, huge parcels on the coast where there was nothing before - and still nothing, but it's been bought and something will be build. It's not that real estate is booming here - it is slow, but when you have enough money to buy a dozen kilometers of coastline for your own use, you don't care whether it's slow - in fact you want it to remain slow and void of neighbors.
There are so many things about your statement that are misleading at best I am not sure where to start.
The US economy, despite some popular "feelings" is doing quite well. It has produced an average of 200,000 jobs PER MONTH for more than two years.
The unemployment rate has been on a steady decline and was at 5.0% for October.
Consumer confidence is high and people are spending money..lots of it.
No. the economy is doing fine in the US.
As for gas prices in Mexico being a factor; Gas in Mexico is about the same as Canada in US dollar terms per gallon at the current Canadian exchange rate for USD. Therefore I just dont see how gas prices can be cited as a factor.
Further the small difference in Gas prices in Mexico vs Canada or some US states Like California I don't beleive is enough to make people decide not to come.
Thirdly, people with money have Always bought up prime waterfront property at least since Roman times. This is not new. And it really has no effect on whether someone decides to vacation with their RV in Mexico.
As for RV'ing losing it's appeal. Look again. RV sales are at an all time high. RV manufacturers are building more plants to meet the demand. The bulge of the Baby Boom is arriving...I am sorry but the facts just dont support what you contend.
The price of gas adjusted for inflation is lower than it has been in a long time. Mexico's gas is actually reasonable compared to other nations. Cambodia and Thailand over $5 per gallon, England around $6 per gallon. Most of the world pays much higher gas prices than we do on this continent. As a percentage of average income (adjusted for inflation)gas is cheaper than it has been in years.
But the entire premise that there is no one here, at least in Baja, seems a bit off to me. When I was looking for Mex insurance for this trip several places took some time to get back to me...they all said the same thing "we are busier than we have been in years" One well known place told me in apology for not getting back to me sooner, that they had a line at their door that morning.
The RV parks I have been to here so far have not been full, but neither have they been empty. But they have been steady. Almost filling then emptying out then re filling again.
The loss of RV parks has more to do with rising land prices and development of ALL kinds than it does with how much business there is. If you are the owner of a prime piece of real estate which is an RV park. You have to compare how much income you get per square foot. Now think about the income per square foot if you sell it or put condos on it? A much different picture. These are the economic factors really at play here. Especially on the coasts.
And this is just the way things happen all over the world. Beach shacks and cheap bars in Bali gave way to 5 star resorts. Same in Thailand, Acapulco years ago and almost any other place you can name.
Also destinations and resorts go through cycles. Up and down years are common and some of it has as much to do with how much good or bad press they are receiving as it does with the reality of what it is really like.
YOU may be discouraged but I see plenty of people from all over the world traveling here who are not.
