Travel and tourism are dominant economic drivers for the state, but here in Southern Arizona there's an extra key contributor to the bottom line - Mexico.

Despite the recent political climate, Mexican nationals visiting Southern Arizona - and in particular, Tucson - continue to impact local economies. They spend $976 million in Pima County alone, according to a recent study published by the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management.

Spending by Mexican visitors in Pima County represents more than 5 percent of total taxable sales, with Santa Cruz County getting nearly 49 percent of its total taxable sales, followed by Yuma County at just over 8 percent and nearly 5.5 percent in Cochise County. Phoenix is the lowest at less than 1 percent.

These figures are up more than 147 percent from 2001 comparison data, adjusted for inflation. While the recession and the drop in the value of the peso have had some effect on those numbers, the impact is still substantial.

For a community that relies so heavily on sales tax revenue, that's a huge chunk - especially when you realize these shoppers are contributing to the tax base, but not demanding the services for which these taxes pay for in the community, said Felipe Garcia, vice president of community affairs and Mexico marketing for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Garcia said businesses need to adapt in order to better serve this clientele. It's not just enough to have someone in your business who speaks Spanish, he said. It's about knowing the demographic, the trends and what the market is looking for.

Garcia heads up the bureau's Mexico Ready program, which helps businesses take a comprehensive approach in developing the right marketing plan - and the right product - to attract and retain the Mexico market.