Despite the struggling economy, Texas Highways readers still found a way to make time for travel. That's good news because the travel/tourism industry is crucial to our economy. In fact, in a recent Texas Highways readers' poll shows that more than half of the respondents spent at least $2,000 in travel expenses in 2008. Twenty-six percent of those say they spent upwards of $4,000.

In Texas, the travel and tourism industry is responsible for billions in economic impact. In 2007, total direct travel spending in Texas reached $56.7 billion. That travel spending helped support 534,000 jobs with earnings of $16.3 billion.

We're glad to hear that our readers are helping.