Tourism

, ,

Future of Eureka Springs tourism agency, funding on the November ballot

, ,

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

Eureka Springs, one of Arkansas’ tourism hot spots, faces the possibility of losing more than $2 million a year in hospitality tax revenue that is used to promote the city, manage city tourism assets and support tourism events.

In 2023, the tax generated $2.05 million, down 1.4% compared with 2022 revenue.

A group of citizens unhappy with the Eureka Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) have managed to place an item on the November general election ballot to remove the city’s 3% hospitality tax on prepared food and on lodging. It only took 148 signatures in a town of around 2,500 to get the item on the ballot.

Mike Maloney, tourism director of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission, understands why some would like to see the tax and the commission go away. He readily admits that the commission has a troubled past, including a revolving door of leadership, a lack of transparency and questionable actions related to event promotion.

Future of Eureka Springs tourism agency, funding on the November ballot

Eureka Springs Tourism - Talk Business and Politics

,

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue up more than 7% through April

,

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax revenue between January and April was $8.11 million, up 7.4% compared with the $7.547 million in the same period of 2023. Revenue in each of the first four months of 2024 set a new record, with those gains compared to record numbers in 2023.

A record for monthly collections was set in June 2023 with $2.71 million.

The tourism tax revenue in 2023 was $25.446 million, up 5.8% from $24.049 million in 2023. Revenue in each month of 2023 set a new record, with gains compared to record numbers in 2023. A record for monthly 2% collections was set in June 2023 with $2.71 million.

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax revenue up more than 7% through April

,

Singer John Carter Cash to headline entertainment for Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism

,

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The 50th Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism is slated to be held in Jonesboro this February and the son of Hall of Fame musician Johnny Cash is slated to give a concert.

John Carter Cash, son of the late Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, and his wife, Ana Cristina, will participate in a special performance on Feb. 25.

“This conference will bring together industry professionals throughout the state and will be an opportunity for Jonesboro to celebrate all the successes in tourism that are happening in Northeast Arkansas,” said Jerry Morgan, chairman of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Singer John Carter Cash to headline entertainment for Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism

John Carter Cash.

,

Katie Beck, CEO of AHA, provides update on the tourism industry

,

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

In an interview with Talk Business & Politics, Katie Beck, CEO of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, provided an update on the state’s hospitality industry.

According to the Arkansas Tourism Ticker, collections of Arkansas’ 2% statewide tourism tax in January-June 2023 saw a nearly 9% increase compared with the same period in 2022. Beck said part of the reason for the increase is travel is rebounding.

“During the pandemic, it was one of the hardest hit. It went from 2019 record jobs numbers to 2020 an industry that was decimated. Coming back and surpassing those pre-pandemic jobs levels, it is huge for the industry,” she said.

Katie Beck, CEO of AHA, provides update on the tourism industry

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

The Buffalo National River is one of the main attractions for tourist to Arkansas. The state has seen an increase in tourism in the past year.

,

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/

,

Arkansas Jobless Rate Dips to 4.2% in August, Tourism Jobs Up Almost 8%

,

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

With a 3.6% gain in jobs in August compared with August 2020, Arkansas’ jobless rate dipped from 4.3% in July to 4.2% in August, according to Friday’s (Sept. 17) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The jobless rate was 6.5% in August 2020.

The number of employed in Arkansas during August was an estimated 1,300,179, up 45,354 jobs compared with August 2020, and above the 1,296,767 in July. The August numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

The state’s labor force – the number of people eligible to work – was 1,357,389 in August, up compared with the 1,341,356 in August 2020, and above the 1,355,738 in July. Arkansans without jobs in August totaled 57,210, down from 58,971 in July, and down 33.9% from the 86,531 in August 2020.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/09/arkansas-jobless-rate-dips-to-4-2-in-august-tourism-jobs-up-almost-8/

,

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 Still Suffering as Pandemic Lingers

,

By KYLE KELLAMS

Fourteen months into a pandemic and Arkansas tourism is still suffering, especially hotels. Michael Tilley, with Talk Business and Politics crunches the latest tourism numbers as part of our weekly review of the news.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/tourism-still-suffering-pandemic-lingers

COURTESY

COURTESY