Top Parks and Tourism Officials Tapped for National Positions
For Immediate Release
Jana Greenbaum, communications manager
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Arkansas capped off another record-breaking vacation season with national recognition for two of its administrators. Directors of Arkansas’s Tourism Division and State Parks Division were each elected by their colleagues from other states to lead their national tourism and parks organizations, according to Richard W. Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Davies noted that this the first time that Arkansas’s state tourism director and state parks director have held both national posts simultaneously. “This is a great honor for the Department and the state of Arkansas to have these two tourism and parks professionals leading their national organizations at the same time,” Davies said.
Joe David Rice, director of the state’s tourism division, was elected chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors, at the Council’s annual meeting last month in Phoenix. Rice, who has served as the state’s tourism director since 1987, will hold the position for a year.
The Council leverages the collective strength of state tourism offices to influence public policy, monitor trends and share technologies among its members, and to offer professional development programs. As chair, Rice will also have a seat on the Board of the Travel Industry Association of America.
Arkansas’s travel and tourism industry has thrived under Rice’s guidance, with a 56.8 percent increase in travel related expenditures, 101.5 percent increase in travel-generated payroll and 95.2 percent increase in state taxes generated by the industry during the past decade alone.
Greg Butts, Arkansas’s state parks director, was elected president of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) Sept. 6, at the Association’s annual meeting in Williamsburg, VA. Butts, a long time member of the NASPD Board of Directors, will serve for two years as president. Starting his career in 1973 with Arkansas State Parks, Butts has served as the state’s parks director since 1990 and is past president of the Association of Southeast State Park Directors.
NASPD provides a common forum for the exchange of information on state park trends; taking collective positions on issues affecting state park programs; partnering with other agencies involved in park, natural resource and recreation programs and initiatives; offering professional leadership development opportunities; addressing policy issues that affect state parks nationwide; and enhancing the ability of the individual state park directors to administer state park programs of the highest quality for the benefit of both the state parks’ natural and historic resources and the visiting public.
The Arkansas state parks system is one of the finest systems of parks and museums in the nation. Today, the system is comprised of 52 parks totaling 53,741 acres. Visitation to Arkansas’s state parks has increased from 6,957,684 in 1990 when Butts assumed the director position, to 9,575,340 in 2006.
Capital improvements within the parks system have also been dramatic under Butts’ leadership. The parks system is currently experiencing one of the most exciting stages in its history. Through other funding sources and since the passage of Amendment 75, Arkansas’s conservation amendment passed by Arkansas voters in 1996, over 250 construction and renovation projects have been completed or are underway that together total over $170 million. Park improvements have included new or rebuilt campgrounds, a wide range of ADA facilities to serve visitors with disabilities, overnight lodging facilities including the $33 million Lodge at Mount Magazine State Park and its 13 cabins, visitor/education centers featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, multi-use trails, and many other enhancements.
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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”
Jana Greenbaum, communications manager
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Arkansas capped off another record-breaking vacation season with national recognition for two of its administrators. Directors of Arkansas’s Tourism Division and State Parks Division were each elected by their colleagues from other states to lead their national tourism and parks organizations, according to Richard W. Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Davies noted that this the first time that Arkansas’s state tourism director and state parks director have held both national posts simultaneously. “This is a great honor for the Department and the state of Arkansas to have these two tourism and parks professionals leading their national organizations at the same time,” Davies said.
Joe David Rice, director of the state’s tourism division, was elected chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors, at the Council’s annual meeting last month in Phoenix. Rice, who has served as the state’s tourism director since 1987, will hold the position for a year.
The Council leverages the collective strength of state tourism offices to influence public policy, monitor trends and share technologies among its members, and to offer professional development programs. As chair, Rice will also have a seat on the Board of the Travel Industry Association of America.
Arkansas’s travel and tourism industry has thrived under Rice’s guidance, with a 56.8 percent increase in travel related expenditures, 101.5 percent increase in travel-generated payroll and 95.2 percent increase in state taxes generated by the industry during the past decade alone.
Greg Butts, Arkansas’s state parks director, was elected president of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) Sept. 6, at the Association’s annual meeting in Williamsburg, VA. Butts, a long time member of the NASPD Board of Directors, will serve for two years as president. Starting his career in 1973 with Arkansas State Parks, Butts has served as the state’s parks director since 1990 and is past president of the Association of Southeast State Park Directors.
NASPD provides a common forum for the exchange of information on state park trends; taking collective positions on issues affecting state park programs; partnering with other agencies involved in park, natural resource and recreation programs and initiatives; offering professional leadership development opportunities; addressing policy issues that affect state parks nationwide; and enhancing the ability of the individual state park directors to administer state park programs of the highest quality for the benefit of both the state parks’ natural and historic resources and the visiting public.
The Arkansas state parks system is one of the finest systems of parks and museums in the nation. Today, the system is comprised of 52 parks totaling 53,741 acres. Visitation to Arkansas’s state parks has increased from 6,957,684 in 1990 when Butts assumed the director position, to 9,575,340 in 2006.
Capital improvements within the parks system have also been dramatic under Butts’ leadership. The parks system is currently experiencing one of the most exciting stages in its history. Through other funding sources and since the passage of Amendment 75, Arkansas’s conservation amendment passed by Arkansas voters in 1996, over 250 construction and renovation projects have been completed or are underway that together total over $170 million. Park improvements have included new or rebuilt campgrounds, a wide range of ADA facilities to serve visitors with disabilities, overnight lodging facilities including the $33 million Lodge at Mount Magazine State Park and its 13 cabins, visitor/education centers featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, multi-use trails, and many other enhancements.
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”
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"