Survey: Winter visitors generate $452 million during 2017-18 season

A survey conducted by Arizona State University estimated that more than $450 million was generated by winter visitors spending during the 2017-2018 season.

The Palms RV resort sees the money generated first-hand.

” It’s going to cost you three to $4,000 to rent. It’s going to cost you $40 to $10,000 to buy a lot, ” explained Bill Evans, manager of The Palms RV Resort. ” Of course, all that money goes back to the County property taxes and in addition to that, all the merchants that they spend six months here. ”

Inside the survey commissioned by Visit Yuma, winter visitors are considered those who call Yuma home for 30 days or more.

Laura Embler is one of those winter visitors that chose Yuma.

She said that she has spent an estimated $12,000 to $15,000 during her six-month stay in Yuma this season.

Embler explained why she loves Yuma so much.

” This is our home too in the winter time. We don’t look at ourselves as visitors. This is our home. This is where we live six months out of the year. We love it here. We have T-shirts that say ‘ Yuman ‘ being on them and we wear them often here because we feel like we’re part of the community for six months out of the year, ” said Embler .

The survey also estimated that winter visitors, like Embler , generated more than $40 million in local and state taxes during the 2017-18 season.