Perhaps many of you do not know me but a few pehaps do, My name is Fausto Garcia from Hermosillo former owner of the Kino Bay RV Park from 1973 to 2005, and I have a question fo all RV'rs coming or came to Mexico, your answer will be very much appreciated.......QUESTION: In the past 12 years how much does you think the RV Tourism has decreassed in Mexico. You can give me a percentage....Thank you.....

I think you're asking for my, uneducated estimate (guess). My guess would be 33%. My wife and I used to travel to the Yucatan area frequently. We haven't gone in 10 years and I doubt I'd ever consider taking my family there.

Use to go every year. Since 2004 have been in every state in Mexico. Love the beauty of the county and the people. Quit going in 2009. Won't go back. Can't tell the good guys from the bad guys. Can't enjoy myself under those conditions. I know at least several other couples that feel the same. A couple of them are Mexican that have permanently moved to USA. Shame, was such a great place.

I hate to say it but depending on destination We see anywhere from 30 to 75 % fewer Rigs since the Hey Days and the ones who are still heading down are not getting any Younger! Over the past Four Years We have introduced several New Folks about half of them are Keepers the rest enjoyed the experience but likely won't be back again.I believe that many are staying away due to the Aging Factor coupled with the increased costs of Everything. Also some of the Great RV Parks of a few Years ago have not been up dated or even maintained to the level that they were Ten or more Years ago!Add in the Scare Factor and You are seeing the results. On a positive note there are a few places that are doing quite well at certain times of the Season. There seems to be a growing number of Mexican Nationals who are heading to the Beaches in RV.'s as well as Tents! They are mostly Middle Class Families with pretty nice Toys ! They are extremely Polite and friendly folks who enjoy The RV Parks that We have been staying at for the Past Dozen Years,I believe that if You don't have A Great attraction like Beacfront with safe Swimming or perhaps a Well Maintained Water Park, with Pools to draw the Locals ,then The prospects for a Private RV Park are pretty poor right now.We will be back again this Winter, but will be staying for a shorter period and will be exploring not only the West Coast but doing a Loop around the perimeter of Your Lovely Country while there are still RV Parks with openings for Us Getting Older Canadian RVers!

One big problem has been the scandalous and scary reporting of bad guys in the television in the USA and maybe Canada, this has of course not helped with a recession and the fact that we are getting older until the government gets more control of a situation that is not good for all, Mexicans as well the turistas, you will not see any improvement in the RV population, many snow birds are opting on renting property or actually buying condos and houses and flying to or close to the property and thus avoiding the hassle and possible danger of roads.This month we are going to Mexico City, we are stopping in Saltillo then Matehuala, having lunch in San Luis Potosi and stopping in San Miguel de Allende three nights all driven during the day no night driving, my eye sight is not that good any more, am I scared not at all, the wife wants to buy candy in Saltillo, and we are taking it easy.navegator

Hi Fausto: I would say that overall RV traffic is down by 40 to 50%. The crime news does not help but there are many factors. The Mexican RV infrastructure is horrible. Lots of very small RV parks with no maintenance. Bad water and electricity. Today's RV'rs demand more than us old travelers. The hassles at the border with bonds does not help.Moisheh

Mexico RV tourist.... | Good Sam Community

Talleyho69
Moderator
Jul 04, 2015
I think it's down about 50%, due to bad press, and increasing prices. Face it-gas is now higher in Mexico than in the US, a huge change from years past.
We have no plans to give up our 5+ months a year,though.....
navegator
Explorer
Jul 04, 2015
Baja is a very popular destination for RV'S to travel, it is the other RV parks in the mainland that have problems, specially along the gulf of Cortez in the popular resort towns that are turista traps that are experiencing a low in clients, other routs are also closing the RV places to overnight, the hotels that we used in San Luis Potosi and Queretaro no longer have space, they are now using it for weddings and other functions, no more parking they built halls.

Baja will continue to be a destination, since it is safe, no bad publicity as of today, the scare mongers have not found anything juicy to shout about.

Maybe Mr. Fausto and other RV park owners can form an association to promote and develop the industry with hopefully the help of the towns and maybe the Secretaria de Turismo.

navegator
briansue
Explorer
Jul 04, 2015
Paying in dollars instead of pesos for a site as a reason for not going to Mexico seems to be an odd reason to me as one poster wrote. If there is one price, ie $25 US Dollars or its equivalent in Pesos, Why not pay in Dollars? For the park owner it's a great hedge against inflation. I can understand why they ask this.

When we go to Mexico for 4 months each winter we get our cash from the money machines in Mexico which give us pesos - not dollars - we do not have dollars and it would be ridiculous for us to bring thousands of dollars in cash from the US. Where are we supposed to get these dollars to pay with dollars in Mexico?
clarlk
Explorer
Jul 04, 2015
I would say Mazatlan area is 50 % to 75 % , and you keep seeing parks that have closed, Bad media, high tolls and gas add that to Land prices that have gone way up .. have all taken a toll on the RV parks.. Very tough Biz as they have only 4 months to make any profit..
Tequila
Explorer
Jul 04, 2015
4X4Dodger wrote:
From the photos I see and the people I have corresponded with there seems to be plenty of RV'ers even with huge class A's still crowding the RV Parks of at least BAJA. And the beaches. From what I can tell, and there are others out there with more direct and recent experience than me, there are some nice parks with good infrastructure.

Paying in dollars instead of pesos for a site as a reason for not going to Mexico seems to be an odd reason to me as one poster wrote. If there is one price, ie $25 US Dollars or its equivalent in Pesos, Why not pay in Dollars? For the park owner it's a great hedge against inflation. I can understand why they ask this.

I recently looked at all the stats for tourism in Mexico and it is up dramatically this year. I have to assume that some part of that increase is also RV'ers.

I dont think it is quite the drastically black and white picture being painted by some posters here.

The reason to pay in pesos is because that is the currency of that country. Those asking dollars have essentially raised their prices by 20%. They actually usually will not take dollars, they go on line and convert the amount to pesos then ask for pesos. That is because it is technically illegal for them to be taking US currency. So that campsite that cost you 250 pesos last year, now costs you 350 pesos.
navegator
Explorer
Jul 04, 2015
Only along the border towns do they accept dollars in Mexico, and accept pesos in the USA, the rest of Mexico uses the national currency which is pesos.

Get pesos at any bank and pay in pesos, you will get the hang of the currency in about one week, and stop converting to dollars in your head it only complicates matters.

Vive la vida loca compadre!

navegator
cross_country
Explorer
Jul 05, 2015
interesting; at the end of last season the deposit for this year was
200 US dollars or 3000 pesos. Which would you prefer if you were Canadian? We paid our entire 5+ months last year in US dollars.
The calculators used for exchange rates in the campgrounds are indeed strange.
rocmoc
Explorer
Jul 05, 2015
In general, 50% plus decrease! Reasons, COST (fuel, tolls, insurance & campground fees - in this order), bad press and hurricane damage from monsoon season - again in this order. As a side note, here in Arizona we have more Mexicans coming North to shop & vacation than ever.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
tepetapan
Explorer
Jul 05, 2015
Rocmoc: tolls, the price of fuel, hurricane damage and media is not stopping Mexicans going North to shop. And they are not stopping Mexicans from vacationing in Mexico.. And they typically earn less money than the people in the US. There are a few reasons that no one whats to touch.
rocmoc
Explorer
Jul 05, 2015
tepetapan wrote:
Rocmoc: tolls, the price of fuel, hurricane damage and media is not stopping Mexicans going North to shop. And they are not stopping Mexicans from vacationing in Mexico.. And they typically earn less money than the people in the US. There are a few reasons that no one whats to touch.

IMHO, we are seeing more Mexicans coming North to shop & vacation because of the growing Middle Class in Mexico. Yes I know there are many in Mexico still living in poverty. And the higher cost of goods in Mexico including FUEL.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico