Texas Rising June 2008

Texas Attractions Entice Tourists

San Antonio’s Alamo and River Walk topped the list of most popular attractions in Texas in 2006,according to information compiled by the Office of the Governor from a survey conducted by D.K. Shifflet & Associates, Ltd. Cities ranging in size from Frisco to Fort Worth posted major gains in hotel occupancy taxable receipts between 2002 and 2007, according to hotel occupancy taxable receipts tracked by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Top State Attractions – 20061

1The list represents in-state and out-of-state survey respondents (cannot be equated with actual visitation or gate count).
2Includes Fort Worth and Buda locations.

  1. Alamo
  2. Paseo del Rio (River Walk)
  3. San Marcos Outlet Malls
  4. State Capitol
  5. South Padre Island
  6. Cabela's2
  7. Kemah Boardwalk
  8. Six Flags Over Texas
  9. SeaWorld San Antonio
  10. Moody Gardens

Highest Percentage Growth, Hotel Occupancy Taxable Receipts 2002-2007

Cities with a population of 50,000 through 99,999

  1. Allen grew 597%.
  2. Pearland grew 467.5%.
  3. Sugar Land grew 383.8%.
  4. Frisco grew 208.7%.
  5. Odessa grew 135.9%.

Cities with a population of 100,000 through 499,999

  1. Killeen grew 101.5%.
  2. Midland grew 87.5%.
  3. Beaumont grew 63.3%.
  4. Irving grew 59.8%.
  5. Plano grew 57.3%.

Cities with a population greater than 500,000

  1. Austin grew 79.1%.
  2. Fort Worth grew 49.5%.
  3. Houston grew 48.2%.
  4. El Paso grew 48%.
  5. San Antonio grew 39.3%.

Sources: Office of the Governer, D.K. Shifflet & Associates, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.


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