Snowbirds' impact on the local economy.

I am sure that we have an impact on the economy of South Texas. I am also sure that there is one heck of a lot of local enterprise during the rest of the year. Some are arrogant enough to think that the locals sit around for nine months waiting for our arrival but they should spend a full year in the RGV. I have been here for the last two summers. The restaurants are busy, there is plenty of traffic, and construction continues.

Here in Arizona, plenty of businesses depend on the snowbirds. Estimated that Canadians alone contribute 1.1 billion to the local economy annually.

Every second car is driven by a bluehair!

But it ain't the same when they are here.

rocmoc n AZ

Florida, and South Texas have the advantage that all months that begin in "J" are big months for tourism. June and July are very popular with the beach crowds. January is the peak of the Winter Texan season.

Surprisingly, a lot of Mexicans come across the US border to shop in the crowded malls in South Texas because they can't get the same quality products in their own country. Our appliances and building materials are top grade and there's even a Mercedez dealership that seems to be doing well. As far as Snow Birds bringing money into the valley, locals like to say they change their T-shirts as often as they change a dollar bill. The valley does quite well with their own home grown Texans whether they come from the Valley or come down from Austin, Dallas and the like to spend money fishing out of Padre Island or to just hang out on the beach.

Anyone questioning the snowbird's impact on the local economy....should visit Mesa or Apache Junction Arizona....from about now, until May 1st.

It's like malls and Christmas.

Yeah, malls are open all year round and they do sell stuff all year round but they make their money in the couple months leading up to Christmas.

Road Phantom wrote:
Surprisingly, a lot of Mexicans come across the US border to shop in the crowded malls in South Texas because they can't get the same quality products in their own country. Our appliances and building materials are top grade and there's even a Mercedez dealership that seems to be doing well. As far as Snow Birds bringing money into the valley, locals like to say they change their T-shirts as often as they change a dollar bill. The valley does quite well with their own home grown Texans whether they come from the Valley or come down from Austin, Dallas and the like to spend money fishing out of Padre Island or to just hang out on the beach.

Not necessarily true. Same quality and sometime better but COST is higher. There is a Walmart in Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Son, Mx with the same or comparable products. Electronics and big ticket items are most often higher priced. Food (quality better) & Meds less cost in Mexico Walmart.

rocmoc n AZ

I personally raised the Arizona GDP by one percentage point when I had my Ford 6.0 diesel.
. . .injectors, "O" rings, oil cooler, bullet proofing, etc.

Yuma’s population triples in winter. A bit of an impact there.