In 2024 the Giddings Chamber & Visitors Center began applying for Giddings to receive a Tourism Friendly Texas designation from Travel Texas. Benefits of the designation  include the opportunity to strengthen or establish relationships important for tourism development, educate local leaders on the importance of tourism to the state, identify and prioritize locally driven strategies, and learn more about opportunities provided by Travel Texas and other state government programs available to support both communities and the travel and tourism industry. 

After a year of going through the application process with Travel Texas, the Chamber & Visitors Center was notified that Giddings had received its designation in January 2025. Spencer Zamora, Research Specialist with Office of the Governor, Economic Development & Tourism and Travel Texas came to Giddings to personally present the designation to the Chamber and Giddings representatives.

Congratulations from Governor Abbott were written and you can read the article here:

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-congratulates-giddings-as-tourism-friendly-texas-certified-community