Tourism in Texas is booming – here’s why
America is a country that is going through a rough patch right now, and with any period of trials and tribulations comes drops in the number of people who want to travel. Even with what appears to be a lack of enthusiasm for traveling in this great country, Texas tourism appears to be weathering the storm better than even the grizziest travel experts could have predicted. The question is simple: why? How is it possible that the lone star state can maintain a constant movement of travelers across its borders when other states are experiencing lulls?
Better to think of the Texas tourism boom as more than just a current problem. In fact, the campaign to make Texas a premier destination for those outside the towers has been in full swing since the 1960s. At the time, Texas was viewed as nothing more than a relic of the Old West, and It certainly didn’t help that there was a presidential assassination in Dallas in 1963. Times were tough for the state, and even its own residents were searching for greener pastures.
Eventually, an organization called the Texas Tourism Development Agency was created for the sole purpose of making Texas seem like a place to be. With just a little over $ 100,000 in the mid-1960s, the agency got down to business. By 1970, tourism numbers had started to skyrocket and revenues had surpassed $ 1 billion.
The agency has since been taken over by other state government offices, but the Texas tourism boom is still flat, and when you take a step back and look at things, you can understand why. For starters, Texas is very business friendly. The generous tax breaks and subsidies have attracted some of the biggest brands on the national and international scene. This migration of businesses to Texas has certainly left its mark. For example, in the last decade, the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex ranked second after New York City in terms of the amount of construction for commercial, warehouse, office and rental space. Not only did real estate, retail and economic experts note the historic length of the Dallas / Fort Worth boom, they also agreed that there will be no slowdown any time soon.
The rise in Texas-based businesses has meant more jobs for residents and non-residents alike. The rebound in employment figures also tends to have a positive impact on retail markets.
Perhaps the best reason that Texas has found itself so high on the list of satisfying places to visit, or call home, is that no matter where you are, you can always find a hidden gem of a city with plenty of hospitality and charm to offer. . . Moreover, you’re not really more than a day-trip’s distance from the major cities of Texas (eg, Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio), and with hundreds of thousands of thousands of roadways, Texas is the ultimate road-trip destination.
Tourism in Texas is certainly experiencing a new era of explosion, but in reality, the lone star status has been on the rise for most of the six decades. All of this means for you and your family that when you decide to visit, you will arrive on time.
