Van Buren tourism director says ‘strong tourism’ to continue

Though there have been a few blips that indicate tourism may slow slightly in Van Buren, the industry remains strong in the second largest city in the Fort Smith metro area. Hospitality tax revenue in the city is up almost 7% over what was a strong 2022.

Through September, Van Buren has collected $197,422,07 in lodging tax for the year and $449,317.38 in prepared food tax for a total of $646,739.83, said Maryl Purvis, director of the Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission. The total is 6.9% higher than the collections through the same time last year, Purvis said. The lodging tax is 6.5% higher than through the third quarter of 2022 and the prepared food is up 8.5%, she said.

“In the last four months or so, I’ve seen a very slight drop in some of the numbers, but not across the board with all the tax accounts. It’s just barely a blip,” Purvis said. “Maybe it just means there is a slight paring back and people just aren’t eating out as much.”

Purvis said that overall, tourism has been strong in Van Buren this year. There have been a good number of visitors from across the state as well as from out of state. Though the excursion train, run by the Arkansas Missouri Railroad from Van Buren to Winslow and back, cut down on the number of runs it made through some of the year, ticket sales were still high, Purvis said, noting the fall numbers were “spectacular.”

“There has been a revitalization of downtown, and it’s been very successful,” Purvis said. “There are very few empty buildings downtown.”

Along with the variety of businesses to draw in tourists, Van Buren has seen a growth in restaurant options over the year, throughout the city, not just downtown, she said. Included in those new options are Dairy Queen and Scooter’s Coffee, both of which opened this year, and Whataburger, which is under construction.

Purvis said there may be more new restaurants in the works in the coming months.

“Quality non-chain restaurants really make a difference in the downtown area or in historic districts,” Purvis said. “I love some of my chain restaurants, but we also have some very good locally owned restaurants. That and our indy bookshop. We have some great things to offer.”

One of the things that has made a big difference in visitors coming to downtown Van Buren is the opening of Arts on Main. When the Center for Art and Education, which has served the Van Buren area since 1976, opened its new 17,000-square-feet building at 415 Main St., in 2022, it opened as Arts on Main and also took on the King Opera House at 427 Main St., making its campus 20,000 square feet of space for all forms art, including theater arts and culinary arts.

Since that time, it has expanded its offering to the community to include adult art classes, arts and crafts, culinary experiences, children and family experiences, pottery and ceramics and theater events. The King Opera house has had something going on “nearly every week,” Purvis said.

“They have really completed what we can offer – now we have entertainment,” she said.

With Main Street growing its offering of shops closer to the Crawford County Courthouse in Van Buren as well as the more established shops and restaurants further up the street and the addition of entertainment and art to the historic district, Purvis said she doesn’t see tourism slowing down anytime soon.

“Yes, I’ve seen a little blip, but I don’t think it is anything to worry about right now. I think we will end this year in a good place. I think we’ll continue to see strong tourism,” she said.