Regional, state tourism numbers still positive

Barring a comparative decline in the final two months of 2011, Fort Smith and Van Buren are on track for an annual gain in hospitality tax collections. In Fort Smith, the feat would mark two consecutive years of gains.

Van Buren hospitality tax collections during October totaled $32,318, just ahead of the $32,150 during October 2010. For the first 10 months of 2011, hospitality tax collections in Van Buren totaled $366,917, up 1.5% compared to the $361,486 in the 2010 period. Van Buren collects a 1% tax on lodging and a 1% tax on restaurants.

“Collections are on track to end the year up slightly, about 1 to 1 1/2 percent, from 2010 tax revenue. Again, the largest increase is in the lodging sector which is showing an increase of almost 2% over 2010. I expect to see continued modest revenue increases in all sectors over the same period in 2010 as we move through the holiday travel season,” said Maryl Koeth, executive director of the Van Buren Advertising & Promotion Commission.

For all of 2010, Van Buren hospitality tax collections totaled $395,195, down just 0.62% compared to 2009. During 2009, hospitality tax collections were down 7.1% compared to 2008. Hospitality tax collections for Van Buren in 2008 totaled $410,914, up 7.4% over 2007 and up more than 14.5% over 2006.

October collections in Fort Smith totaled $66,747, up 2.7% compared to October 2010. Fort Smith hospitality tax collections during the first 10 months of 2011 total $609,553, up 3.1% over the $590,785 in the 2010 period. The city collects a 3% tax on lodging.

“Overall the lodging market was close to flat with fractional declines in occupancy and average daily rate overall in the city, but we did have some increases from some of the larger properties that helped us grow revenue slightly. We continue to be on pace to outperform the annual budget,” said Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Hotel tax collections in Fort Smith during all of 2010 totaled $678,934, up 1.04% compared to 2009. During 2009, Fort Smith hospitality tax collections totaled $671,912, down more than 16% from 2008. Fort Smith hospitality tax collections in 2008 totaled $803,591, 11% more than the $723,548 collected in 2007, and more than 19% above 2006 collections.

In the Fort Smith metro area, there were an estimated 9,000 employed in the leisure and hospitality sector during October, down from the 9,200 employed in the sector during September, but above the 8,700 the sector employed in October 2010. Sector employment reached a high of 9,800 in August 2008, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

STATE TOURISM
Arkansas’ 2% tourism collection garnered $9.351 million during the first nine months of 2011, up 3.45% compared to $9.039 million during the 2010 period. During October, the tax generated $1.089 million, up 7.5% compared to October 2010. For all of 2010, the tax generated $11.492 million, up 0.99% compared to 2009. The collections were off the 2008 high of $12.005 million.

The state’s tourism sector — Leisure & Hospitality jobs — employed an estimated 104,500 during October, up compared to the 103,200 in September, and unchanged from October 2010.