Frontier Airlines executive: The Rio Grande Valley is an ‘undiscovered gem’

HARLINGEN, Texas - The vice president of international sales and global development for Frontier Airlines says the Rio Grande Valley has great potential as a tourist destination.Alfredo Gonzalez gave an in-depth interview to the Rio Grande Valley International News Service at a recent news conference held at Valley International Airport in Harlingen. The news conference was held to announce a new nonstop flight from VIA to Las Vegas, starting in September, on Sundays and Thursdays. The one-way price from Frontier Airlines is only $49.While the new service might have been started to assist Valley tourists wishing to visit Las Vegas, it was put to Gonzalez that Vegas residents might also be interested in the Valley, After all, the Rio Grande Valley is lucky enough to be home to South Padre Island. Gonzalez said he could not agree more.“This is not just a flight, it is a story to be told. After what we suffered in the last year, this is a beautiful story and a beautiful destination that has all the assets that we think we need in order to have a successful flight,” Gonzalez said.“This area is an undiscovered gem. Even though as discovered as places like South Padre Island are, I think that the diversity of product on both sides of the border are amazing and I think it is what people in today’s world are looking for. They might not be looking for the giant rollercoaster anymore. They are looking for beautiful beaches, wide open spaces, places where you can take your family, relax and really take in after such a hard time in the last year and a half.” Gonzalez continued: “South Padre Island has historically been an amazing recreational holiday vacation destination. And I think we as an airline understand that people need to go in both directions. Yes, it is great that we can service the most fun city in America, Las Vegas, but at the same time look at the numbers of hundreds of thousands of people that live in Clark County and all around Las Vegas that want to have a holiday on the beach. There are no beaches in Vegas.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.