Mexican Visitors to Arizona, 2007-08 Mexican Visitors to Arizona: Visitor Characteristics and Economic Impacts, 2007-08 Prepared for the: Arizona Office of Tourism Phoenix, Arizona December 2008 Prepared by: Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi, PhD and Alberta H. Charney, PhD The University of Arizona Eller College of Management Economic and Business Research Center Mexican Visitors to Arizona, 2007-08 The University of Arizona Eller College of Management Paul R. Portney, Dean and Halle Chair in Leadership Economic and Business Research Center McClelland Hall 103 P.O. Box 210108 Tucson, AZ 85721-0108 (520) 621-2155 Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi, Senior Regional Scientist, and Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Regional Development
[email protected] Alberta H. Charney, Senior Research Economist
[email protected] Marshall J. Vest, Director
[email protected] Arizona Office of Tourism Margie A. Emmermann, Director AnnDee Johnson, Director of Research and Strategic Planning Melissa Elkins, Research Manager Sponsors Arizona Office of Tourism Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Maricopa County DMOs Tucson Convention and Visitor Bureau The University of Arizona Eller College of Management Mexican Visitors to Arizona, 2007-08 The University of Arizona Eller College of Management Mexican Visitors to Arizona, 2007-08 Contents Contents Acknowledgements i Executive Summary iv List of Tables and Figures viii I. Purpose and Research Design 1 Purpose and Objectives 1 Research Design 2 Survey instrument 3 Sampling size and interview schedule 3 Weighting procedure 4 II. Mexican Visitors to the United States 7 Economic Importance of Mexican Visitors 9 Reasons for Border Crossings 9 Factors Influencing Mexican Visitors’ Border Crossings and Spending Pattern 10 Exchange rate 10 Growth of maquiladora sector 10 NAFTA effect 11 Transformation of Mexican retail industry 11 Post 9/11 border security policies 12 III.