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Expenditures:
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Nearly 23 million travelers spent more than $5.5 billion in Arkansas last year. |
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State Taxes:
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More than $284 million in state taxes were paid by these travelers. |
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Local Taxes:
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An additional $103 million in local taxes resulted from purchases made by travelers in the past year. |
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General Employment:
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58,336 Arkansans are directly employed by the travel industry. |
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Key Employment:
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The tourism industry provides key jobs for those just entering the workforce, for college students during the summer months, and for many retirees looking for supplemental incomes. |
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Economic Diversity:
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Tourism can add another dimension to the economic base of a community. |
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Positive Publicity:
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Tourism attractions and events can bring desirable publicity to those towns trying to get on the map. |
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Community Cohesiveness:
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By involving the entire community in its festivals, a town can develop a better sense of pride and togetherness. |
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Education:
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Certain tourism festivals, shows, and re-enactments can bring history to life, making people more aware of their past. |
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Cultural Preservation:
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Some tourism events offer opportunities for traditional folk cultures and practices to be passed on to interested parties from all walks of life. |
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Industrial Growth:
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By generating positive publicity and community cohesiveness, tourism can make a community more attractive to industrial site locators. |
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Retirees:
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Tourism can lead to the in-migration of retirees, complete with their talents, time, and trust funds. |
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Action:
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Tourism is where the action is these days, and is predicted to continue its strong growth. |
