Last week, Governor Greg Abbott joined U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman to amplify the impact the travel and tourism industry has on the booming Texas economy during a fireside chat at American Airlines Headquarters in Fort Worth, attended by dozens of regional business leaders and local media. 

Travel is far more than a means to reach a destination; it is a dynamic force that powers economies and touches nearly every industry and community across the United States. In 2023, travel spending generated $2.8 trillion in economic output nationally and supported jobs for more than 15 million American workers. In the state of Texas, visitors spent $94.8 billion last year, supporting 1.3 million jobs.

“Tourism is an important part of the Texas economic juggernaut. Over the last 10 years, hotel demand and air capacity have increased,” Governor Abbott said. “People love to see all that Texas has to offer, and tourism is a big part of what has made Texas so successful.”

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Throughout the conversation, the governor highlighted the state’s robust travel industry, pointing to major sporting and entertainment events that have brought in thousands of visitors across the state, such as the Red River Showdown and Austin City Limits Music Festival, stimulating Texas’ local economies. The Governor also noted the upcoming FIFA World Cup games that will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and NRG Stadium in Houston, mentioning that Texas has hosted major sporting events before and is well-equipped to host multiple games for the most popular sporting event in the world.

Freeman noted the value of convening government officials and business leaders to discuss the industry’s impact. “Travel makes an incredible contribution to the Texas economy and its workforce. Our discussion with Governor Abbott was an outstanding opportunity to highlight how travel is vital to practically every industry sector,” Freeman said. 

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Governor Abbott is a champion for travel, and we look forward to our continued work in support of the growth of travel to Texas and across the nation. We would also like to thank American Airlines for their partnership in hosting this event at their headquarters.