Tourism: Why It's Important to Arkansas

• Expenditures: 29 million travelers spent $7.8 billion in Arkansas last year.
• State Taxes: More than $404 million in state taxes were paid by these travelers.  
• Local Taxes: An additional $148 million in local taxes resulted from purchases made by travelers in the past year.  
• General Employment: 66,195 Arkansans jobs are generated by the travel industry.  
• Key Employment: 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.  
• Economic Diversity: Tourism can add another dimension to the economic base of a community.  
• Positive Publicity: Tourism attractions and events can bring desirable publicity to those towns trying to get on the map.
• Community Cohesiveness: By involving the entire community in its festivals, a town can develop a better sense of pride and togetherness.  
• Education: Certain tourism festivals, shows, and re-enactments can bring history to life, making people more aware of their past.  
• Cultural Preservation: Some tourism events offer opportunities for traditional folk cultures and practices to be passed on to interested parties from all walks of life.  
• Industrial Growth: By generating positive publicity and community cohesiveness, tourism can make a community more attractive to industrial site locators.  
• Retirees: Tourism can lead to the in-migration of retirees, complete with their talents, time, and trust funds.  
• Action: Tourism is where the action is these days, and is predicted to continue its strong growth.