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Visit Pasadena, TX Earns Tourism Friendly Texas Certification
15 Dec 2025
Pasadena, Texas, December 15, 2025 — Visit Pasadena, TX, powered by the Pasadena Economic Development Corporation (PEDC), is proud to announce that Pasadena, TX has been officially designated as a Tourism Friendly Certified Community by the Governor's Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, a recognition that underscores the city's commitment to leveraging tourism as a key economic driver.
"Travel and tourism are strategic economic development drivers that contribute to business attraction, workforce development, and regional competitiveness," said Karina Tomlinson, Interim Executive Director, PEDC. “This designation reflects Pasadena's commitment to fostering an environment that supports investment and long-term growth. As the second-largest city in the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Pasadena is well positioned to support tourism as a driver of local economic development.”
The Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community program is a designation created to encourage communities across Texas to pursue tourism as an economic development strategy and provide resources and recognition for those efforts. Goals for the program include to strengthen relationships with existing community partners, educate local leaders on the importance of tourism as a tool for economic development and job creation, and encourage participation in state government programs available for tourism development.
"Whether you're travelling to Pasadena for business, attending a conference, or exploring the Bay Area Houston region as a leisure visitor, every visitor plays a role in supporting our local community," said Dr. Jo Estrada, Visit Pasadena, TX Manager. “This designation reinforces our focus on creating a welcoming environment that supports local businesses, generates jobs, and strengthens Pasadena's position within the greater Houston MSA.”
Through the certification process, Visit Pasadena, TX garnered 27 letters of support from local and regional partners, as well as a proclamation from the City of Pasadena, TX Municipal Government under the leadership of Mayor Thomas Schoenbein, which is a testament to the big heart within the community, and the support for tourism and economic development in our city. The Tourism Friendly Designation marks Pasadena, TX's second state designation. Back in June, Pasadena received its Music Friendly Designation.
About the Pasadena Economic Development Corporation (PEDC)
PEDC was created in 1998 as a nonprofit, type B corporation under the Texas Development Corporation Act. It is financed by a half-cent sales tax collected in the City of Pasadena, TX. State law allows the city to collect this sales tax to pursue specifically authorized economic development activities in the city.
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