~ Kilgore, Texas - Governor Greg Abbott has congratulated the City of Kilgore for being designated as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community by Travel Texas. This recognition comes after the city successfully completed a multi-step certification process.

The Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community designation is a testament to the commitment of Visit Kilgore in further developing tourism as an economic growth strategy. It also aims to boost local job creation and attract more visitors to Kilgore and Texas from across the nation and around the world.

Governor Abbott emphasized the importance of tourism to both local and state economies, stating that travelers to and within Texas generate almost $200 billion in annual economic impact and support 1.3 million jobs across the state. He encouraged all Texas communities to apply for this certification in order to further grow local tourism and create more jobs.

Kilgore is now not only a Music Friendly Texas and Film Friendly Texas Certified Community, but also a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community.

Senator Bryan Hughes also congratulated Visit Kilgore and the City of Kilgore on achieving this designation, stating that tourism creates opportunities, drives economic growth, and shares East Texas' rich heritage with visitors from near and far. He believes that this honor affirms what they already know - Kilgore is a welcoming destination that proudly shares the spirit of East Texas with the world.

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Representative Jay Dean expressed his pride in seeing Kilgore recognized as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community. He praised the city for honoring its rich history while embracing new opportunities for growth, stating that this certification is a testament to their commitment to welcoming visitors and supporting the local economy through tourism.

Mayor Ronnie E. Spradlin III shared his pride in receiving this designation, stating that Kilgore thrives when visitors feel welcome. He believes that this honor reflects the warmth, hospitality, and spirit of their residents.

City Manager Rachel Rowe emphasized that being a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community means creating experiences and memories for every visitor. She stated that Kilgore is committed to making everyone feel at home while exploring all that the city has to offer.

Megan Payne, the Tourism and Marketing Manager for Visit Kilgore, shared her personal experience as a visitor to Kilgore and how she was struck by the love and commitment of the town and Visit Kilgore in making every visitor's experience special. She expressed their honor in being recognized as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community.

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The Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community program is open to local governments or non-profit organizations that serve as the lead entity for tourism promotion and development efforts. The benefits of this designation include strengthening or establishing relationships important for tourism development, educating local leaders on the importance of tourism to the state, identifying and prioritizing locally driven strategies, and learning about opportunities provided by Travel Texas and other state government programs available to support both communities and the travel and tourism industry.

For more information on the Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community program, interested parties can visit gov.texas.gov/tourism-friendly-texas.

The mission of Travel Texas in the Governor's Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office is to enhance and extend local economic development efforts by marketing Texas as a premier travel destination in out-of-state and international markets. This includes generating non-Texan travel to Texas, creating revenue and jobs for local communities, and promoting the state as a top travel destination.

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