The City of Texarkana has been designated as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas, following the completion of a multi-step certification process. This recognition highlights Visit Texarkana’s efforts to promote tourism as an economic growth strategy, increase local employment, and attract more visitors both from within the United States and internationally.
Governor Greg Abbott congratulated Texarkana on receiving the designation. “Tourism is critical to both our local and state economies,” said Governor Abbott. “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 also holds the status of Film Friendly Texas Certified Community.
Representative Gary VanDeaver commented on the community’s welcoming nature: “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 emphasized the importance of tourism for the city: “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 highlighted community pride: “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 open to local governments or non-profit organizations leading tourism promotion efforts. The benefits include building relationships important for tourism development, educating leaders about tourism’s role in the state economy, identifying locally driven strategies, and learning about opportunities provided by Travel Texas or other government programs supporting communities and the travel industry.
Travel Texas operates within the Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office with a mission focused on promoting Texas as a travel destination outside its borders, generating revenue for communities statewide.
According to information from the official website, Governor Greg Abbott’s office supports job creation initiatives across Texas through collaborations such as those with Southwest Airlines for economic expansion projects. The office also backs certifications like those awarded by Travel Texas.
Governor Abbott has led his office since his election in 2014 (source). The office maintains its primary location at Austin’s State Insurance Building (source) while delivering services statewide (source).
For more details about becoming a certified community under this program, information can be found at gov.texas.gov/tourism-friendly-texas.
