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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas is a premier tourist destination, drawing some |
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215 million travelers annually from every state in the country as |
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well as from nations around the globe; and |
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WHEREAS, From the rugged mountains of Big Bend Country to the |
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sweeping beaches of the Gulf Coast, Texas has an expansive and |
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diverse array of big cities, small towns, and outdoor escapes, as |
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well as a host of festive events that showcase the state's unique |
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charm and spirit; and |
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WHEREAS, The rich heritage of the Lone Star State is a point |
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of pride for many Texans, and numerous historical sites provide a |
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close-up look at the state's storied past; one of the most visited |
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of these attractions is the Mission District of San Antonio, |
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featuring the world-famous Alamo that draws more than 2.5 million |
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people each year; other prominent sites include frontier-era forts |
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and ranches, the San Jacinto Battleground, the USS Texas |
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battleship, and our very own Texas Capitol; popular museums focused |
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on Texas history include the Bob Bullock Story of Texas Museum just |
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a few blocks away from the statehouse, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame |
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and Museum in Waco, and numerous other exhibitions that reflect the |
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developments that have shaped the state we know today; and |
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WHEREAS, NASA's Space Center Houston showcases more recent |
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accomplishments and offers interactive displays and |
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behind-the-scenes tours that allow visitors to learn about |
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America's manned space program; Texas has the rare distinction of |
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being home to three presidential library and museum complexes; the |
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most recent of these, the newly opened George W. Bush Presidential |
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Center, adds to the many attractions located in Dallas, a city also |
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renowned for hosting the State Fair of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Further opportunities abound in Fort Worth's famed |
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Cultural District, which includes the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon |
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Carter Museum, the Modern Art Museum, and Bass Performance Hall; |
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smaller cities can likewise offer outstanding theatrical |
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experiences, as visitors can discover as they enjoy operas and |
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dramas at the Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts in Orange or |
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experience Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in Odessa; moreover, |
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music aficionados of all persuasions flock to Austin, which affirms |
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its status as the self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World" |
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with a multitude of annual concerts and festivals; and |
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WHEREAS, For nature lovers, few places can compare to the |
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panoramic vistas of Big Bend National Park, which combines soaring |
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peaks with deep chasms carved by the Rio Grande; notable as well are |
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the colorful rock formations in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the |
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towering forests of the Big Thicket, and the many underground |
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caverns located around the state; moreover, the Texas coast offers |
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some of the best opportunities for bird-watching in the Western |
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Hemisphere, and with a detour to Galveston, visitors can encounter |
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the splendor of Moody Gardens and its simulated rainforest; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the most popular vacation cities in the |
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Coastal Bend and the state at large is Corpus Christi; in keeping |
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with its setting, the "Sparkling City by the Sea" is an ideal place |
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to view exotic ocean fauna at the Texas State Aquarium, and the |
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nearby Padre Island National Seashore similarly highlights the |
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wonders of the area habitat; moreover, the South Texas Botanical |
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Gardens & Nature Center is an equally dazzling sight, with its 180 |
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acres of tropical flowers and butterflies; visitors can also |
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experience the Art Museum of South Texas, the Corpus Christi Museum |
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of Science and History, and the USS Lexington aircraft carrier, and |
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the city is a favorite locale as well for youth and amateur sporting |
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events; each year, approximately 7.4 million people collectively |
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spend more than 18.5 million days in Corpus Christi, thereby |
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infusing over $1.1 billion into the local economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Tourism is likewise a mainstay of the state economy |
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as a whole, with travel spending totaling more than $65 billion in |
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2012, the most successful year to date; these dollars have |
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supported some 564,000 jobs and generated nearly $4.4 billion in |
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state and local tax revenue, in addition to bolstering businesses |
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related to transportation, retail sales, restaurants, and |
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entertainment; and |
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WHEREAS, With its fascinating history, majestic landscapes, |
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and vibrant communities, Texas enjoys a well-deserved reputation |
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as a dynamic and compelling destination, and it is indeed fitting to |
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recognize the essential role that travel and tourism play in our |
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state's prosperity; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 30, 2013, as Tourism Day, |
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commend all those associated with that sector of the economy for |
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their efforts, and encourage residents and visitors alike to |
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explore the many attractions that Texas has to offer. |