Tilley: Arkansas’ Tourism Sector Is A Leader

Michael Tilley, editor of The City Wire, opines on tourism growing importance to the Arkansas economy.

Tourism jobs are among the fastest growing in the last decade and could soon eclipse manufacturing employment in terms of job numbers.

Notes Tilley:

… I thought I understood and fully appreciated the benefit of Arkansas’ tourism economy. For example, travel generated expenditures from $404.906 million in 2010 to $426.167 million in 2011. Travel generated jobs rose slightly as well from 3,652 to 3,688.

The sector employed 105,400 in December, up from 103,800 in December 2010. Also, the sector hit peak historical employment of 106,100 during July. Employment in Arkansas’ tourism and business travel sector is up 23.4% between December 2011 and January 2001.

By comparison, Arkansas’ manufacturing sector — once the backbone of Arkansas’ economy — employed 155,000 in December. Employment in the sector is down 34.3% compared to January 2001. If trends continue, tourism employment could outpace manufacturing employment by the end of the decade.

And by way of further comparison, Arkansas’ tourism sector has enjoyed a higher rate of growth in the past 11 years than all but one of the state’s key economic sectors.

The only sector to see greater growth in the past 11 years is Arkansas’ health and education sector. Employment in the sector — which employed 170,800 during December 2011 — is up 32.9% between January 2001 and December 2011.

Arkansas’ trade, transportation and utilities sector — now the state’s largest — posted December employment of 235,200. Employment in the sector is up 2.85% between January 2001 and December 2011. Arkansas’ tourism and business travel sector is up 23.4% between December 2011 and January 2001.

Arkansas’ government sector is up 14.56% between January 2001 and December 2011. Arkansas’ tourism and business travel sector is up 23.4% between December 2011 and January 2001.

Employment in Arkansas’ professional and business services sector is up 16.3% between January 2001 and December 2011. Arkansas’ tourism and business travel sector is up 23.4% between December 2011 and January 2001.

Tilley also highlights recent comments from Arkansas Parks and Tourism director Richard Davies and economist Jeff Collins, who both note that Arkansas’ tourism attractions can’t be exported — you have to come to the state to experience them.

Read more on the subject at this link.