Yuma Visitor Study (2017-2018)

The Center for Sustainable Tourism is working with Visit Yuma, the local Destination Marketing Organization, and the County of Yuma to estimate the economic value of winter visitors to the city and county.

Tens of thousands of U.S. and Canadian visitors stay in the area for more than 30 nights in a variety of accommodations – RV and mobile parks, owned houses, hotels, and rental properties. This study aims to accurate count these important visitors and learn more about their stay in Yuma. This project is funded by the CVB, the county and Arizona Office of Tourism as part of their rural grant matching program. The team includes faculty Lee, Vogt, and Chhabra, and graduate student Lindblom.

The final report is available via the Arizona Office of Tourism's website (link to PDF).

Findings from this study have also been presented to the American Association of Geographers and the Travel and Tourism Research Association. Scroll down for links to the following documents:

Lindblom, J., Lee, W., Vogt, C., & Pham, K. (2019). Flocking behaviors: The role of sociality in the snowbird experience. Oral paper presentation at the Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual International Conference, Melbourne, Australia, Jun 2019.

Lindblom, J., Godwyll, J., Lee, W., & Vogt, C. (2019). Second homebodies: Investigating patterns of movement and migration within homeowner winter visitors in Yuma, Arizona. Oral poster presentation at the American Association of Geographers Conference, Washington, D.C., Apr 2019.