In order to combat all the negative publicity going on with elected officials calling the region a lawless war zone and not a place for tourists, the Explore RGV website and mobile app have been created.
What Is Explore RGV?
Explore RGV is meant to showcase all the local assets and places to see in the Rio Grande Valley. Listing tourist attractions and much more. So far over 1,000 areas are highlighted to show people things to do and places to go.
The United States Economic Development Administration provided a $350,000 grant to help launch this website and app. The Lower Rio Grande Development Council, as well as the local cities and governmental agencies in the area, banded together to brainstorm how to combat all the negative perceptions the media has shown in the region.
The website will act as an anchor for tourists who are searching for those hidden treasures; they may not find just by looking up McAllen, South Padre Island or Brownsville. A marketing package in the form of two short commercials will take place soon showing all about Explore RGV. The rural areas that don’t get a lot of attention will be brought to the forefront as the Rio Grande Valley has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.
Battling A Negative Image
If it’s not immigration, crime or poverty, there always seems to be a very negative, unfair portrayal of the Rio Grande Valley. Lifelong residents will tell you otherwise as it a beautiful place to live and raise a family. The Rio Grande Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Explore RGV is going to be an excellent tool for those visiting the Rio Grande Valley or looking to visit as they will be able to go to a centralized place and see all that the area has to offer. Whether it is South Padre Island or the McAllen Convention Center for a show, the valley is a hidden treasure in itself just waiting to be explored.
Explore RGV couldn’t have come at a better time to showcase what the Rio Grande Valley has to offer and what it has grown into, which is not anything negative at all, contrary to what perception may or may not be.
