Winter visitors to Texas are both unique and interesting. Discovering the warm climate and abundant seasonal offerings of the Lone Star State, they flock to the five primary regions of Texas each year and are a welcome site to local residents who have come to enjoy their annual pilgrimage and to greet, once again, the many friends they have made down through the years - and to welcome any and all newcomers.  Texans, overall, are a friendly lot, and they enjoy sharing their natural resources and many attractions. In like manner, most winter visitors are a positive influence on a state that enjoys meeting people and sharing ideas. But the question ever remains, who - exactly - are these winter friends. As a collective, where do they come from, what do they like Texas, what do they expect from the locals, how long do they stay, what can we, the natives, do to make them feel more at home? These are just a few of the questions that academic leaders and students at the University of Texas-Pan American have been asking for years, and may have been the the reason a comprehensive study was launched a number of years ago. For years, the UTPA Winter Visitor Study has been the leading authority on defining the Winter Texan travel industry, and this year's study is no exception. The new study reveals a number of interesting facts about Winter Texans and their travel habits, and is well worth the read if you're at all interested in the industry. Below you will find a few of the executive summary details of the new study, released just last week. For a full copy of the study, inquire at the UTPA Economics Department office. Copies are available at .50-cents per page. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY With its warm winter climate and various attractions that include a premier beach destination and a bicultural environment, the Lower Rio Grande Valley has been a popular winter vacation destination for decades among many North American retirees. In this study of Winter Texans, the Valley Markets and Tourism Research Center at The University ofTexasPan American continues an over two decade old tradition oftracking these visitors, identifying who they are, where they come from, why they visit the Rio Grande Valley, what activities they engage in, and how they spend their money. This year the Center added a few more dimensions ofanalysis, namely health care utilization and Internet use. The 2008 study collected data from over 900 respondents through a survey that included five major sections: demographic characteristics, information about their stay, expenditure patterns, Internet use, and health care. Demographic Characteristics The average Winter Texan participating in this year's study is married (87 percent), Caucasian (99 percent), retired for more than a year (86 percent), and has a high school diploma (34 percent) or some college education (35 percent). The average age of Winter Texans is 69.5 years and the average household income is around$50,000with69 percentofrespondents'incomesfallingin the$20,000to$60,000 range. Fifty-three percent ofrespondents or their spouses are veterans having served on active duty in the United States military. Winter Texans, 65 years of age and older, tend to be younger, more educated and report higher incomes than their counterparts in the general population. Most Winter Texans are from Minnesota (16 percent), Iowa (12 percent), Illinois (eight percent), Canada (eight percent), and Wisconsin (seven percent). Thirty-six percentofWinterTexansexpressedawillingnesstoserveonaconsumerpanel for business and academic research purpose. Stay Characteristics On average, a typical Winter Texan has been coming to the Valley for 9.1 years, and stays for around 4.2 months. The majority of Winter Texans live in residences they own (83 percent), with RVs and mobile homes the most popular type ofhousing. , • Most Winter Texans come to the Valley for its climate, friendly people and as a winter vacation. Winter Texan Report 2008 Most popular activities while in the Valley include visiting flea markets (89 percent), crossing the border into Mexico (77 percent), going to South Padre Island (61 percent) and participating in the various area festivals (54 percent). Overall, Winter Texans are satisfied with their winter experience in the area, with an overwhelming majority (96 percent) indicating that they would return the following year. Potential impediments to a return visit are primarily health and family related. Expenditure Patterns • An average Winter Texan household spends about $9,555 during a typical stay in the Valley. Sixty-five percent ofthat amount ($6,177) reflects average monthly spending, over an average stay of 4.2 months, on items such as groceries, transportation, entertainment, utilities, housing, etc. The remaining ($3,378) reflects one-time major purchases of housing, appliances, furniture, travel tours, and similar transactions. Computer and Internet Use At least 70 percent of Winter Texans subscribe to an Internet service provider. Emailing and browsing are the most popular Internet activities among respondents, while making online purchases is the least popular Internet activity. Relative to shopping, entertainment and medical information, news is the information category respondents are most likely to obtain from the Internet. Learning barriers and lack of technical support are identified as the most relevant reasons that prevent more computer use. Overall women are more likely than men to engage in the interactive dimensions of the Internet. Health Care Winter Texans generally enjoy good health with 90 percent of respondents reporting to be in good to excellent health, versus 73 percent of individuals 65 years of age and older nationwide. While in the Valley, Winter Texans utilize health care facilities (doctor, hospital, emergency room) at around half the rate of usage at their permanent homes. Dentists are utilized more in Mexico border towns than in the Valley. Practically all Winter Texans have health insurance coverage. Around60percentofWinterTexans aresatisfiedwiththequalityofhealthcarereceived in the Valley and have high levels of trust and confidence in their treating doctor. THE WINTER TEXAN 2008 STUDY As part of the ongoing research to better understand the Winter Texan market, The Winter Texan 2008 study was modeled on previous years' studies which focus on the various characteristics of the Winter Texan population, such as demographics, stay characteristics (length of stay, type of housing, etc.), activities, and expenditure patterns. This approach helps with behavior tracking over time. In addition to the usual sets ofquestions, this year's study included two additional sections. The first one related to computer and Internet use among this population, exploring types of online activities Winter Texans engage in and the importance of different Internet aspects. The second additional section in this year's study examines health care issues such as the utilization of health care facilities in the Valley and levels of satisfaction and trust with these facilities.