Report: Arkansas tourism industry adds $9.9 billion to state economy

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas tourism is now a $9.9 billion industry, and an estimated 50.7 million people visiting the state in 2023, up 17.1% compared with 2022 visitors, according to an economic impact study commissioned by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

The study, announced Thursday (Oct. 17), was conducted by Tourism Economics with input from DK Shifflet.

Arkansas State Parks recorded 8.4 million visitors in 2023, and 4.3 million people visited National Park Service sites in the state. The new visitors spent an additional $700 million, pushing the industry to the verge of becoming a $10 billion industry and solidifying its position as Arkansas’ second largest economic driver, according to the report.

Report: Arkansas tourism industry adds $9.9 billion to state economy

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue sets new record in June

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax revenue between January and June was $13.513 million, up 6.1% compared with the $12.74 million in the same period of 2023. Revenue in each of the first six months of 2024 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

A record for monthly 2% collections was set in June with $2.839 million.

Of the top five counties in terms of 2% tax collections, only Pulaski County posted a decline (down 2.87%), with Washington County posting the largest percentage increase at 15.08%.

The tourism tax revenue in 2023 was $25.446 million, up 5.8% compared with the $24.049 million in 2023. Revenue in each month of 2023 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue sets new record in June

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Arkansas tourism continues to be a strong industry

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas Tourism Director Dalaney Thomas said the state’s 2% tourism tax collections continue to rise with fiscal year 2024 (June 2023-July 2024) closing out at a record $26.363 million, up 5.13% compared with the recent fiscal year.

“Arkansas’ travel industry continues to see growth in large part thanks to the expansion of the state’s marketing footprint and the return of strong business and corporate travel,” Thomas said.

The tax collections are directly allocated toward promotion of the state, and Thomas said those efforts are working.

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: Arkansas tourism continues to be a strong industry

Officials say Arkansas’ tourism strategy should play to its outdoors strength

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas should focus on its strengths, particularly its easily accessible and affordable outdoor spaces, the state’s first gentleman said Wednesday (April 24) at Power Up Little Rock, an economic development series presented by Arvest Bank, at the Clinton Presidential Center.

Bryan Sanders, who chairs Gov. Sarah Sanders’ Natural State Advisory Council, said as a political strategist, he looks for his candidates’ unique selling proposition. Arkansas should do the same.

“What is it that makes Arkansas unique? To me, it’s our outdoors,” he said. “You look around us in this region of the country. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana – none of these states have anywhere close to the access to outdoor recreation that we have here in the state of Arkansas.”

Officials say Arkansas’ tourism strategy should play to its outdoors strength

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Arkansas’ tourism industry booming

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

Many spots in Arkansas continue to see record visitation in 2023 making tourism a strong part of the state’s economy, according to the Arkansas Department Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT).

Interim ADPHT Secretary Shea Lewis said May 2023 tourism collections were up 5.6% over May 2022, making it the highest collections for the month of May so far and the 27th consecutive month that Arkansas tourism has set a new monthly collection record.

“We are also up 9.8% year to date over 2022,” Lewis said.

Also, The Arkansas Tourism Ticker shows that healthy gains to begin 2023 for the state’s leisure and hospitality sector are continuing. Arkansas’ tourism tax is up more than 10% between January and April, with average tourism sector jobs up more than 5% in the first four months of 2023. The Arkansas Tourism Ticker is managed by Talk Business & Politics, and sponsored by the Arkansas Hospitality Association.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/state-of-the-state-mid-year-2023-arkansas-tourism-industry-booming/

State of the State 2023: Tourism officials tout busy 2023, push outdoor recreation

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ new secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, Mike Mills, believes now is an exciting time for the department. The almost 50-year veteran of the state’s tourism sector says the industry has recovered from the pandemic.

“As Arkansas State Parks celebrates its centennial year, the Arkansas tourism industry continues to thrive, having increased revenue consistently for the past 20 months,” said Mills, who was appointed to the cabinet position Jan. 12.

Data released by the department in September shows Arkansas’ tourism industry had record-breaking visitation in 2021 and has recovered after the significant decline in 2020 that was a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The state saw over 41 million visitors in 2021 compared to 29.2 million in 2020 and 36.3 million in 2019. Lodging spending increased 49% after a fall of 29% in 2020. That rebound led to lodging spending exceeding its 2019 level by 5%. The data was released during the Arkansas Hospitality Association’s annual convention in Little Rock.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/state-of-the-state-2023-tourism-officials-tout-busy-2023-push-outdoor-recreation/

Fruehauf, Miles to be inducted into Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Benjamin Franklin Fruehauf III and Paula Miles will be inducted into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame on Feb. 27, during the 49th annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism to be held Feb. 26-28 in El Dorado.

The Hall of Fame honor is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have been actively involved in Arkansas’s tourism industry for many years and who have made substantial contributions to the betterment of the industry as a whole.

Ben Fruehauf III
Fruehauf III and his father began floating the Illinois River near the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. They soon heard stories of a pristine river known as the Buffalo and in 1970, after a few more visits to the state, Ben’s father purchased land in Gilbert. Since that time, Ben has worked to ensure visitors to Arkansas and the Buffalo have the same captivating experience he first had.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/fruehauf-miles-to-be-inducted-into-arkansas-tourism-hall-of-fame/

Arkansas Expects Tourism Bump From Leaf Peeping In October

By DAVID MONTEITH

State parks in Arkansas, which have seen increased visitation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, expect to see even more traffic as temperatures drop and leaves become more colorful. Monika Rued, spokesperson for Arkansas State Parks, says leaf-peeping — visiting an area specifically to view its foliage — is very popular as trees change color each fall.

The state park's website gives general dates to expect trees to be most colorful in different regions of Arkansas, but weather can be a factor, with times potentially varying by more than a month.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-expects-tourism-bump-leaf-peeping-october

Leaves were beginning to show fall colors Saturday at the historic Cunningham Cabin at Cabot Middle School South.

CREDIT WES GOODNER / FOR KUAR NEWS

Tourism, Economic Development Leaders Partner To Recruit Return To Arkansas

By ROBY BROCK / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

While COVID-19 has impacted tourism and travel as well as business expansion, Arkansas is pushing forward to remain open and ready for business. Tourism and economic officials in Arkansas have spent many years trying to convince people to work, live and play in Arkansas.

Three people working hard on those efforts have new tools and new collaborations to conduct their business thanks to the Arkansas Legislature and a Gov. Asa Hutchinson executive order to develop more outdoor recreation businesses. Secretary of Parks, Heritage & Tourism Stacy Hurst, Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston, and Arkansas Tourism Director Travis Napper recently sat down with TB&P Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/tourism-economic-development-leaders-partner-recruit-return-arkansas

(Clockwise) Arkansas Tourism Director Travis Napper, Talk Business & Politics Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock, Secretary of Parks, Heritage & Tourism Stacy Hurst and Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston discuss efforts to draw tourists back to Arkansas.

CREDIT TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

Sevier County Tourism Expecting Big Crowd for 2024 Total Eclipse

Keisha McKinney of the Sevier County Tourism Committee dropped by today to shed some light on preparations for the total eclipse of the sun in April of 2024.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

Tourism in Arkansas is making a big comeback. While the pandemic severely impacted the industry in 2020, there are signs that tourism is rebounding and doing better than before the health emergency began.

The tourism tax collections for March 2021 exceeded collections from March 2019 by 14.6%. From mountain biking adventures to world-class art museums, Arkansas destinations play an essential role in our economy.

Before the pandemic, travel-supported jobs represented 6.6% of Arkansas’s total private industry employment. We also know that 8.4 jobs are created for every $1million spent on tourism in our state.

That is why every session, we consider legislation to improve the industry.

In the most recent session, we passed Act 777, An Act to Establish the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Act. This legislation directs the Division of Arkansas Heritage to promulgate rules for the distribution of grants to non-profit organizations that acquire or exhibit works of art or works of cultural or historical significance.

Act 840 allows the Division of Heritage to issue up to $8 million in historic rehabilitation income tax credits each year. The current maximum amount of credits given is $4 million.

We passed Act 652, which allows for dynamic pricing at state parks.

The division may increase or decrease approved rates charged for lodging, camping, events, services, and all other accommodations using a dynamic pricing strategy based on market forces such as seasonal variation in demand, occupancy, market analysis, and special event interest to maximize revenues from the use of state resources to promote the fiscal soundness and long-term sustainability.

The legislature also created the Arkansas Legislative Arts and Technology Boot Camp with Act 577. The camp will issue a final written report, including an inventory of Arkansas’s statewide arts and cultural assets, and identify funding needs to maintain a statewide database.

Arkansas is home to experiences and attractions found nowhere else. We encourage you to explore everything our state has to offer this summer.

Tourism Secretary Hurst Touts Legislative Accomplishments, Speaks to State Image

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Stacy Hurst, Arkansas’ secretary of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said while the recent legislative session spiked emails to her agency due to negative national headlines, there were also a number of positive achievements made in the 93rd General Assembly.

Appearing on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics, Hurst said the national press garnered from legislation centered around “culture wars” has resulted in an increase in opinions for her agency to field.

“We’re getting some emails from individuals mainly. And we just respond that Arkansas is a very welcoming state. We’re known for our hospitality,” she said, noting that there has not been the type of economic response seen in North Carolina after it passed, and then rescinded, a transgender bathroom law a couple of years ago.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/tourism-secretary-hurst-touts-legislative-accomplishments-speaks-to-state-image/