A healthier economy along Mexico's northern border could provide a windfall for Arizona, given the estimated $2.3 billion shoppers from Mexico already spend in the state annually. On average, the ports of entry record more than 23 million trips from Mexico each year. Visit Tucson is one organization tracking the numbers. Felipe Garcia serves as executive vice president of the group's Mexico marketing department, Vamos a Tucson. He discussed factors that encourage tourism from Mexico.
"We don’t rebate sales tax in Arizona. … Most of our revenue at a local level comes from sales tax," Garcia said. "We all benefit from that Mexican national coming with money in their pockets to spend money in our community."
Arizona 360 airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6 and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on PBS 6 PLUS. See more from Arizona 360.
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