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Shop & Save in Texas This Summer!

12th Annual Texas Tax-Free Weekend August 20-22, 2010

AUSTIN, Texas, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas' annual tax-free weekend is scheduled for August 20-22, 2010. Created with Texas families and back-to-school shopping in mind, this event has quickly become an anticipated tradition for many out-of-state visitors.

The savings will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 20 and end at midnight on Sunday, August 22. Savings apply to select clothing items and school supplies less than $100, and shoppers can save approximately $8 for every $100 spent.

Shopping is a key travel motivator and tourism attraction for the state of Texas. According to D.K. Shifflet & Associates, more than one in four (27%) domestic travel parties visiting Texas destinations indicated that shopping was the primary activity of their stay. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (DOC/OTTI) reports that 88% of the 55 million international travelers to the U.S. report shopping as their number one activity (2009 data).

"Tax-free weekend is a valuable opportunity for both Texans and visitors to experience significant savings," said Julie Chase, Chief Marketing Officer, Office of the Governor, Economic Development & Tourism. "Visitors are encouraged to combine the weekend visit with some of the state's endless attractions, from museums and culture to amusement and water parks."

For a complete list of tax-free items available during Tax-Free Weekend, August 20-22, visit http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html.

For more information on travel experiences in Texas, please visit http://www.traveltex.com and find us on Twitter (@texastourism) and on Facebook.

About Tourism in Texas

Tourism is one of the largest industries in Texas, supporting 525,700 jobs across the state. In 2009, travelers spent an estimated $51.8 billion in Texas. Travel expenditures generated $2.7 billion in state taxes and $943 million in local taxes. For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, visit TravelTex.com or for a free Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX.

SOURCE Texas Tourism