Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday the launch of the “Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community” program, inviting communities to submit a letter of intent to begin the certification process.
The program will be run by Travel Texas in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism, which is “responsible for promoting Texas as a premier travel destination.”
“Texas is one of the top travel destinations for visitors from across the nation and around the world,” said Abbott in a press release. “Travelers to and within Texas generated more than $187.5 billion in economic impact and supported 1.2 million jobs across the state in 2022.
“Every region of this great state offers endless opportunities to experience the natural beauty, rich history, and true Texas hospitality that draws visitors from around the world. I invite all Texas communities to apply to become a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community to leverage the expertise of Travel Texas, explore travel and tourism industry partnerships, and learn about the resources available to further grow local tourism and jobs.”
The press release explains that the new program is similar to the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community and the Film Friendly Texas Certified Community programs.
Benefits for communities seeking the new designation include “the opportunity to strengthen or establish relationships important for tourism development, educate local leaders on the importance of tourism to the state, identify and prioritize locally driven strategies, and learn more about opportunities provided by Travel Texas and other state government programs available to support both communities and the travel and tourism industry,” according to the press release.
“The financial impact of millions of visitors to Texas destinations is critical to both the state and local economies,” said Tim Fennell, director of Travel Texas. “The Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community designation is an opportunity for communities across Texas to show their commitment to tourism as an economic development strategy and continue to develop the many diverse attractions and experiences that draw visitors to the Lone Star State.”
Interested communities must submit a letter of intent by February 9. Communities must also complete a questionnaire and at least one module of online training.
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