The City of Arlington has been recognized as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas, following the completion of a multi-step certification process. This designation reflects efforts by the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau to use tourism as a strategy for economic growth, job creation, and attracting more visitors to both Arlington and the state.
Governor Greg Abbott commented on the significance of tourism in Texas, stating: “Tourism is critical to both our local and state economies. Travelers to and within Texas generate almost $200 billion in annual economic impact and support 1.3 million jobs across the state. I congratulate the City of Arlington and the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau on earning this designation. All Texas communities are encouraged to apply to become a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community to further grow local tourism and jobs across our great state.”
Arlington now holds three certifications: Music Friendly Texas, Film Friendly Texas, and Tourism Friendly Texas.
State Representative David Cook also praised Arlington’s achievement: “With its central location in the heart of North Texas and strong support for the arts, it’s no surprise Arlington has been named a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community. Arlington has now earned the trifecta: Music Friendly, Film Friendly, and Tourism Friendly. This achievement shows Arlington’s commitment to growth, creativity, and opportunity, and I’m proud to represent a city leading the way in Texas. I want to thank Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, the City of Arlington, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, and all those who worked diligently to earn this outstanding achievement.”
Mayor Jim Ross highlighted some key attractions that contribute to tourism in Arlington: “We have all the tourism assets in Arlington needed to be a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community, including the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Six Flags Over Texas, the National Medal of Honor Museum, and outstanding arts and cultural amenities. What truly makes us tourism friendly, however, is the outstanding customer service provided by Arlington’s thousands of tourism and hospitality workers. They create the experiences necessary for Arlington’s 16 million annual visitors to return to our city time and again.”
The program is available for local governments or non-profit organizations that lead tourism promotion efforts. Certification provides opportunities such as building partnerships important for tourism development; educating community leaders about tourism’s role; prioritizing strategies at a local level; and accessing resources from Travel Texas along with other government programs designed for communities as well as travel industry stakeholders. More information about this program can be found at gov.texas.gov/tourism-friendly-texas.
Travel Texas operates under the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office with a mission focused on supporting local economic development by promoting out-of-state travel into Texas markets—generating revenue streams along with employment opportunities statewide.
