Tourism is Vital to Arkansass Economic Health (OPINION)

For Arkansas to grow and prosper in the 21st century, we need a healthy and diverse economy.

Over the years, we have been fortunate in that we have not put all of our eggs into one basket, so to speak, which is why we were able to keep our budget balanced in the recent economic downturn.

One of the industries in which Arkansas has continually thrived is travel and tourism, an industry which is projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries in the next decade.

Tourism is an industry in and of itself, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) certainly understands its value. We include the many opportunities that our tourism sector offers among our key quality of life selling points as we work to entice businesses to locate and expand operations here.

Tourism is vital to Arkansas’ economic well-being. Visitors continually flock here to enjoy the state’s pristine outdoor pursuits, its world-class museums and its athletic and artistic venues.

In 2013, Arkansas hosted more than 23 million visitors, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. That’s approximately seven visitors for every single Arkansas resident. Two-thirds of these visitors came from out of state and those visitors spent $5.9 billion here — accounting for new “outside” dollars being injected into our economy and into the paychecks of Arkansans.

State and local taxes collected from tourism in 2013 totaled more than $420 million, thanks to a 2-percent tourism tax on lodging, attractions and campground/marina rentals.

Economic impact studies have shown that, for every dollar spent on marketing Arkansas to our neighbors in surrounding states, more than $10 is collected in state and local revenues.

Today, Arkansas is on the brink of growing our tourism industry even more. To maximize that growth — and economic revenues — we continually extend an open invitation to new and repeat visitors from within and out of state.

As spring and summer approach, I encourage each of you to expand your quality of life by planning at least one or two weekends exploring some of the state’s treasures. You won’t regret it, and your children won’t forget it.

Our state parks system — second to none — hosts almost 10 million visitors each year. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville hosted more than 600,000 people in its first year, and the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock brings more than 300,000 new visitors to the state annually.

We are also seeing more international visitors stop by the Johnny Cash Museum in the northeast Arkansas town of Dyess.

At AEDC, it is our mission to bring jobs to the state. We appreciate the fact that the leisure and hospitality industry employs more than 100,000 of our fellow Arkansans.

It is imperative that we have tools, such as the Arkansas Tourism Development Act, in place to ensure this sector continues to thrive in Arkansas.

Recent projects AEDC has helped facilitate include the Arkansas Music Pavilion, Magic Springs and various convention centers throughout the state.

These are great venues that bring people from across the globe to Arkansas — venues important to our economic health and of which we can be proud. 

Danny Games, former manager of corporate affairs for BHP Billiton, was named interim executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in January.