Winter Texans flock to South Texas

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

It is estimated the Rio Grande Valley nets more than $6.3 million from temporary residents during the winter months. In order to get to the Rio Grande Valley by car, they must pass through our area each year.

More than 10,000 Winter Texans attended the McAllen International Travel Show last week. The Alice Chamber of Commerce and Convention Visitors Bureau attended the event with their one goal in mind, to get them to stop in Alice.

“For the last several years, we have attended this particular travel show to share information about Alice and the area and get them to stop in Alice,” Chamber Executive Director Juan Navejar said. “It is working, just talking to those who stopped by our booth, we heard from so many that said, ‘we stopped in Alice for gas or food this year’.”

The McAllen show is one of two travel shows conducted each year that targets Winter Texans specifically. The second show is slated for January 28^th in Rockport. The Rockport show is sponsored by the Texas Coastal Bend Regional Tourism Council and attracts nearly 1,000 Winter Texans who come to the area.

“I think it is important to keep track of those from out of state who pass through town or stop overnight,” Navejar said. “Each year, we get some 30 to 45 couples who stay in our immediate area either in an RV park or in an Alice hotel.”

Of the 10,000 who attended the McAllen Show, many were from Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Tennessee, Canada and Mexico.