The City of Texarkana has been named a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas after completing the required certification process. The designation highlights Visit Texarkana’s efforts to use tourism as a strategy for economic growth, job creation, and attracting more visitors to both the city and the state.
Governor Greg Abbott commented on the importance 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 Texarkana and Visit Texarkana 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.”
Texarkana now holds both Film Friendly Texas and Tourism Friendly Texas certifications.
Representative Gary VanDeaver said, “Texarkana has always been a place where folks feel welcome, and this certification just puts a spotlight on what our community does best. I’m proud of Visit Texarkana and everyone who works hard every day to make our corner of Texas a place people want to come back to again and again.”
Texarkana Mayor Bob Bruggeman added, “Texarkana is proud to be recognized as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community. This honor underscores the importance of tourism in driving our local economy and strengthening the regional partnerships that make our city thrive. We look forward to continuing our efforts to showcase Texarkana’s welcoming spirit and the many opportunities that make it a great place to live, work, and visit.”
Mayor Pro Tem Jean Matlock said, “This certification is a reflection of Texarkana’s commitment to hospitality, collaboration, and community pride. We have so much to offer visitors from our unique attractions to our local culture, and this recognition highlights the teamwork and dedication that go into making Texarkana a destination people want to experience again and again.”
The Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community program is available for local governments or non-profit organizations leading tourism promotion efforts. The benefits include building relationships important for tourism development, educating leaders about tourism’s significance for the state economy, identifying locally driven strategies, and learning about resources offered by Travel Texas.
Travel Texas operates within the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office with goals such as promoting out-of-state travel into Texas markets—efforts that contribute revenue generation at both community and statewide levels.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott supports these initiatives through its executive role in state government since Greg Abbott took office in 2014. The office has contributed toward job growth in Texas through collaborations like those with Southwest Airlines on economic expansion projects as well as supporting programs like Travel Texas certifications for communities statewide.
For more information about becoming certified or other related programs, visit gov.texas.gov/tourism-friendly-texas.
