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New Birding Survey Results Are Good News for Valley
A recent survey conducted by Texas A&M University has found that nature tourism brings in a hefty $300 million a year to the Rio Grande Valley economy.
The survey, commissioned by South Texas Nature Marketing Coop, estimates total annual expenditures by visitors in the Valley who come specifically to bird or for other watchable wildlife activities spend $300,090,866 per year. "This number excludes people who visit South Padre Island for beach-going," said Nancy Millar, Vice President and Director of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce's Convention and Visitors' Bureau and Chair of South Texas Nature Marketing Coop. "The $300 million figure is primarily birders, but also includes butterfly watchers, plant and dragonfly enthusiasts, and others who enjoy the Valley's natural assets."
Among other findings, the survey shows that nature tourists tend to stay an average of 5 days. 64% had visited the Valley previously, with the average number of previous visits being 15. "The high return rate of birders and other wildlife watchers is really not a surprise to us," said Martha Noell, Weslaco Chamber of Commerce CEO and a member of South Texas Nature Marketing Coop. "We know that birders especially, once they visit the area, really do understand the undeniable superiority of the Valley's birding resources." 23.5% of all Hidalgo County leisure visitors and 23.3% of all Cameron County leisure visitors travel to the Valley specifically to enjoy nature tourism, the study showed. "Of the 10.1 million leisure person-days to the two counties, that means that approximately 2.3 million people each year come for our natural resources," said Keith Hackland, owner of Alamo Inn B&B and a member of the Coop. "We've known that nature tourism had a huge economic impact on the area; we just didn't realize how big it really is."
The survey, conducted during May and June of this year, was the first of two survey phases. The second will be performed during the fall months. Survey statisticians expect the economic impact figure to increase once the second phase is completed.
South Texas Nature Marketing Coop is a non-profit organization comprised of Chambers of Commerce and Convention and Visitors' Bureaus and is designed to increase the awareness that the Rio Grande Valley has excellent birding and nature tourism opportunities. Because it offers the array of nature opportunities across the entire Valley, it also enables the Rio Grande Valley to compete on a broader scale with other nature destinations. Participating Chambers and CVB's include Alamo, Edinburg, Harlingen, Hidalgo, McAllen, Mission, South Padre Island, Weslaco, Willacy County in the Valley and also Port Aransas and Houston.
For more information please visit www.southtexasnature.com or email nmillar@mcallencvb.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST BOOKS STILL AVAILABLE!
El Monte del Valle; Images of South Texas
Coyote, bobcat, green jays and roadrunners, Oh my! You can still order copies of El Monte del Valle; Images of South Texas, the eighth in a series of books from the award winning photos of the Valley Land Fund Wildlife Photo Contests.
Featuring over 200 full-color wildlife images and write-ups on the winning landowners and photographers from the 2008 contests, this coffee table book will be the gift to give this holiday season, to your friends, family and clients. Photos are captioned with the subject name and interesting facts, making them educational as well as beautiful. They document the diverse array of birds, mammals, insects and arachnids, reptiles and amphibians that reside and thrive in the habitat provided by our Valley private landowners.
Dedicated to the Rafael and Carmen Guerra Family, El Monte del Valle was published in 2009. A limited amount of the books are still currently available. But don't delay! Copies of El Monte del Valle are going fast, and when they're gone, they won't be coming back!
This $50 book can be purchased at a substantial discount for advance purchases of twenty books or more. To place a book order contact VLF at (956) 686-6429 or visit the website at www.valleylandfund.com.
The Valley Land Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1987, strives to preserve, enhance and expand the native wildlife habitat of the Rio Grande Valley through education, land ownership and the creation of economic incentives for preservation.
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