By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Inflation is keeping many southern Arizona residents close to home this Fourth of July weekend, with locals choosing hotels and resorts in the area rather than traveling.
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Felipe Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Tucson, said the trend is benefiting the local economy.
“Inflation, gas prices, the price of even airfare is up there,” Garcia said.
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose 4.2% over the last 12 months. While prices dropped compared to the previous month, they remain elevated from the same period last year.
Garcia said the timing coincides with a traditionally slower season for Tucson tourism.
“If you look historically, when we look at our top time of the year for tourism — February,” Garcia said.
Despite triple-digit temperatures and the departure of snowbirds and University of Arizona students for the summer, nearly every hotel and resort in the Tucson area is fully booked.
Garcia said higher prices are driving the shift toward local travel.
“We’re seeing more people doing staycations, and we’re seeing more local travel, more local compression of the market,” Garcia said.
He said limited access to broader travel options is pushing residents to stay closer to home.
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“We’re seeing people having less access to travel internationally, to travel other places in the U.S., the drive market becomes strong, but then when you see the fuel prices, well, you’re going to stay closer, even,” Garcia said.
Lesah Sesma, general manager of Casino Del Sol, said the property is seeing increased business heading into the holiday weekend.
“This weekend we do have a full house, so it’s very fortunate, you know, being in Tucson, Arizona in the summer. So we’re excited that a bunch of locals are staying in Tucson,” Sesma said.
Sesma said the property is catering to local visitors to sustain that business.
“The public is free even though we’re sold out. We have plenty of dining experiences, seven places to eat, we have our spa and our golf course, so you can make it a whole day,” Sesma said.
Garcia said the economic impact extends beyond individual businesses.
“That’s really important to help our local economy, keep dollars, keep money circulating so staff at the hotels keep their jobs and spend money here locally,” Garcia said.
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