State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Meeting Summary
January 16, 2009
The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held Jan. 15, 2009, at the Delta Area Health Education Center in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. For questions regarding this report, please contact Gloria Robins, executive assistant, at 501-682-7614.
Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Richard W. Davies reported that the legislative session has started. The legislative dinner, hosted by Arkansas Tourism Development Foundation, Friends of the Arkansas Department of Heritage, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish, Arkansas Hospitality Association and the Nature Conservancy is slated for March 3. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.
The Commission approved the schedule for the 2009 State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meetings. Locations include Mountain View, Rogers, Morrilton, El Dorado, Springdale, Wynne, Little Rock, Texarkana and Paragould. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.
Parks Division
Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council Grant Request
The Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council grant request. The grant request totaled $7,814,311. The ANCRC program is funded by a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax and is available to state agencies that receive general revenue funding and acquire, manage, operate or maintain state-owned lands or preserve state-owned historic sites, buildings and structures. For more information, contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.
Mississippi River State Park
State Parks Director Greg Butts reported that the park superintendent residence for Mississippi River State Park is almost complete and expects the new superintendent to be named this month. The contract for Beech Point Campground renovations has been awarded and work will begin within the month. For more information, contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.
Tourism Division
Assistant Tourism Director Nancy Clark reported that the theme of the 35th annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference is Arkansas Destinations: Welcome to The Natural State. The conference is scheduled for March 15-19 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Speakers include Governor Mike Beebe, Harry Paul and Dr. Nate Booth. Registration Packets will be mailed later this month. For more information, contact Nancy Clark at 501-682-1120.
Research & Information Services
Inquiries for November 2008 were up 5.7% compared to November 2007. December 2008 inquiries were down 4.5% from December 2007. Inquiries for calendar year 2008 were down 3.9% compared to calendar year 2007. Arkansas Welcome Center traffic was down 8.7% in November and up 2.5% in December. Traffic at the Welcome Centers was down 10% calendar year 2008. For more information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.
Tourism Development
The 2009 Arkansas Festival and Events Association annual conference will be held in Fort Smith on Jan. 24-26. The conference theme is Aloha: Greetings from Paradise. For more information, contact Kristine Puckett at 501-682-1676.
Group Travel
The Bank Travel Conference will be held in Little Rock on Feb. 19-21. Travel South Showcase will be held in Kissimmee, FL, on April 4-8. For more information, contact Renee Robison at 501-682-1219.
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods (CJRW)
The Commission approved the 2009 Spring/Summer Online Media and Creative Recommendations submitted by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. The recommendations featured a variety of specific niches/audiences including adventure sports, budget travel, ecotourism and motorcycling. CJRW staff also reported that the 2009 Interactive Arkansas Tour Guide debuted on Arkansas.com on Jan. 1. For more information, contact Karen Mullikin or Carrie Orahood at 501-975-6251.
Aristotle
Marla Johnson Norris reported that Arkansas.com ranked number one for all 50 state tourism Web sites, for the first time in November 2008. The number of visitors to Arkansas.com in December was up 12.2%. For more information, contact Marla Johnson-Norris 501-375-4638.
The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held Jan. 15, 2009, at the Delta Area Health Education Center in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. For questions regarding this report, please contact Gloria Robins, executive assistant, at 501-682-7614.
Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Richard W. Davies reported that the legislative session has started. The legislative dinner, hosted by Arkansas Tourism Development Foundation, Friends of the Arkansas Department of Heritage, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish, Arkansas Hospitality Association and the Nature Conservancy is slated for March 3. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.
The Commission approved the schedule for the 2009 State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meetings. Locations include Mountain View, Rogers, Morrilton, El Dorado, Springdale, Wynne, Little Rock, Texarkana and Paragould. For more information, contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.
Parks Division
Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council Grant Request
The Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council grant request. The grant request totaled $7,814,311. The ANCRC program is funded by a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax and is available to state agencies that receive general revenue funding and acquire, manage, operate or maintain state-owned lands or preserve state-owned historic sites, buildings and structures. For more information, contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.
Mississippi River State Park
State Parks Director Greg Butts reported that the park superintendent residence for Mississippi River State Park is almost complete and expects the new superintendent to be named this month. The contract for Beech Point Campground renovations has been awarded and work will begin within the month. For more information, contact Stan Graves at 501-682-1633.
Tourism Division
Assistant Tourism Director Nancy Clark reported that the theme of the 35th annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference is Arkansas Destinations: Welcome to The Natural State. The conference is scheduled for March 15-19 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Speakers include Governor Mike Beebe, Harry Paul and Dr. Nate Booth. Registration Packets will be mailed later this month. For more information, contact Nancy Clark at 501-682-1120.
Research & Information Services
Inquiries for November 2008 were up 5.7% compared to November 2007. December 2008 inquiries were down 4.5% from December 2007. Inquiries for calendar year 2008 were down 3.9% compared to calendar year 2007. Arkansas Welcome Center traffic was down 8.7% in November and up 2.5% in December. Traffic at the Welcome Centers was down 10% calendar year 2008. For more information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.
Tourism Development
The 2009 Arkansas Festival and Events Association annual conference will be held in Fort Smith on Jan. 24-26. The conference theme is Aloha: Greetings from Paradise. For more information, contact Kristine Puckett at 501-682-1676.
Group Travel
The Bank Travel Conference will be held in Little Rock on Feb. 19-21. Travel South Showcase will be held in Kissimmee, FL, on April 4-8. For more information, contact Renee Robison at 501-682-1219.
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods (CJRW)
The Commission approved the 2009 Spring/Summer Online Media and Creative Recommendations submitted by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. The recommendations featured a variety of specific niches/audiences including adventure sports, budget travel, ecotourism and motorcycling. CJRW staff also reported that the 2009 Interactive Arkansas Tour Guide debuted on Arkansas.com on Jan. 1. For more information, contact Karen Mullikin or Carrie Orahood at 501-975-6251.
Aristotle
Marla Johnson Norris reported that Arkansas.com ranked number one for all 50 state tourism Web sites, for the first time in November 2008. The number of visitors to Arkansas.com in December was up 12.2%. For more information, contact Marla Johnson-Norris 501-375-4638.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"