McAllen Officially Recognized as International Destination City
· Texas Border Business
McAllen has been recognized as an IFEA International Festival and World Festival and Event City four times due to its diverse year-round events, including festivals, conventions, and sports. Mayor Pro Tem Victor “Seby” Haddad declared May 3-9, 2026, as 'National Travel and Tourism Week' in McAllen, highlighting the sector's importance to the local economy, which supports over 7,200 jobs. In 2025, McAllen hosted 33 conferences generating over $7.4 million and 13 sporting events that brought in over $22 million. The city is also the first in South Texas to report over 1 million travelers annually, contributing over $1.2 billion to the economy.
AI summary · Source: Texas Border Business →
