Numbers healthy for Fort Smith metro tourism and travel sector

August hospitality tax collections in Fort Smith and Van Buren, sector employment and traffic at the Fort Smith Regional Airport point to continued recovery in the region’s tourism and travel industry.

Hospitality tax collections in Van Buren for the first eight months of 2014 total $292,039, up 2.1% compared to the same period in 2013. The city collects a 1% tax on lodging and a 1% prepared food tax.

August receipts totaled $36,555, up an impressive 6.6% compared to August 2013. Maryl Koeth, executive director of the Van Buren Advertising & Promotion Commission, said winter-weather related changes in the school calendar helped boost August business.

“Normally we see a slow down in hospitality spending in early August as families begin to prepare for the start of the school year. This year because of the abbreviated summer break due to the extreme winter weather we saw more people vacationing and taking day trips later in the summer giving a boost to the August hospitality tax numbers,” Koeth explained.

Collections in Van Buren during 2013 totaled $423,221.83, remarkably close to the $423,222.91 during 2012. During 2012, Van Buren hospitality tax collections totaled $425,554, up 5.2% compared to the 2011 collections. Hospitality tax collections in Van Buren during 2011 totaled $429,561, up 2.34% compared to 2010. The 2011 collections ended a two-year skid in Van Buren.

Employment in the Fort Smith regional tourism industry set a new record of 9,900 during September, up from 9,800 in July and above the 9,600 in August 2013. The previous record of 9,800 was set in August 2008.

The Fort Smith Regional Airport posted September enplanements of 7,977, up 16.9% compared to September 2013. Enplanements for the first nine months of 2014 total 68,780, up 7.86% compared to the same period in 2013.

FORT SMITH NUMBERS
For the first eight months of 2014 the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau collected $513,674, up 3.1% compared to the same period of 2013. The city collects a 3% tax on lodging.

August hospitality tax collections in Fort Smith totaled $64,856, up 10.2% compared to August 2013.

Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau, said events hosted in August of this year included the second half of the Bandmasters convention, the Arkansas Cattlemen convention, the Slamily Reunion (car show rally) and a Lockheed-Martin meeting.

Also according to Legris, hotel occupancy was up 10.4% over the previous August and average daily rate grew 3.1%.

“The summer tourist season has also shown positive results with the Fort Smith Visitor Center seeing an increase of 9,540 visitors on a year to date basis, which is an increase of 29%,” Legris said. “We hope mild fall weather and stability with the decreased price of gas will combine to bring us a strong fourth quarter for 2014.”

Collections in Fort Smith during 2013 totaled $731,057, down 2% compared to the same period in 2012. During 2012, Fort Smith hospitality tax collections totaled $746,182, up 5.37% compared to the 2011 period. The 2011 collections were up 4.3% compared to 2010.

ARKANSAS TOURISM TREND
Collections of Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax during the first seven months of 2014 totaled $8.21 million, up 7.12% compared to the $7.664 million during the same period of 2013. (The state did not have August numbers as of Oct. 22).

The 2% tourism tax set a record in 2013 by reaching $12.716 million. Richard Davies, the state’s tourism chief, predicted 2014 would be even better for Arkansas’ tourism and travel sector. March, April, May, June and July set records for collections of the state’s tourism tax for the months.

The 2013 collections were up 2.5% compared to the $12.405 million in 2012, and well ahead of the $11.378 million slump in 2009 when national economic conditions proved tough on Arkansas’ tourism industry.

Arkansas’ tourism sector (leisure & hospitality) employed 108,800 during September, down from a revised 109,000 during August, and above the 105,500 during September 2013. Employment in this sector reached a high of 109,100 in March.