Texas is enjoying a boost in visitors from the UK with more and more travellers keen to seek new and different experiences.
Following an increase of 17% of UK arrivals in 2015, a direct flight was introduced by Singapore Airlines from Manchester to Houston last month.
Tourism Director for Texas, Brad Smyth, said: "We?ve been very excited to see the growth of UK travel, not just in numbers but also in investment. We already have some great airlines flying into Texas from London, but now we have a direct service from Northern England, which is wonderful because it?s a very important market for us."
The destination is focusing on pushing the different types of experiences available in Texas and ?travelling like a local?. Smyth admits that food and drink and the music scene are both a real pull to many visitors.
He added: "We are seeing more people experiencing new things and discovering the modern Texas, beyond the cowboys and rodeos. Cowboys are a great part of our culture, but we are made up of many, including Spanish, German and African American influences. These have all come together to create a real mix. Food has also been a big drive. The bbq scene is unique and people are getting out into the hills to experience the wines and craft beer."
The growth of the wine industry has led to the creation of a wine corridor, from Austin to Fredericksburg with 15 wineries along the way.
Smyth was also keen to point out that Texas is a great destination for shopping, with international travellers able to have their taxes refunded in many of the malls, as well as at the airports as they leave.
Meanwhile, Texas is looking forward to celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2017 ? marking the beginning of the great cattle drive heading north. A host of festivities are being planned in towns along the route starting in April and carrying on throughout the year.
