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Welcome from Stacy Hurst
Photo: Stacy Hurst, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism at the Main Street Arkansas Downtown Revitalization Grant Ceremony, Argenta Plaza, North Little Rock, June 11, 2021
Did you know that tourism is a leading economic driver in our state? One of the best-received presentations during the 2021 Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism was focused on Heritage Tourism. I’m proud that our Division of Arkansas Heritage agencies and professionals are certainly doing their part to create authentic and quality experiences for citizens and visitors. As our mission states, we preserve and promote Arkansas’s natural and cultural heritage as a source of pride and enjoyment for all.
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According to the most recent collections report from the Department of Finance and Administration, Arkansas’s 2% tourism tax collections for March 2021 exceeded collections from March 2019 by a robust 14.6%. This is an important metric because it reflects an increase over pre-pandemic levels! From mountain biking adventures to world-class art museums, Arkansas destinations play an essential role in our economy.
While our heritage museums and sites are free and open to the public, our proximity to hotels and restaurants provides guests experiences to learn about the history and culture of our state. In essence, our preservation efforts support economic drivers that benefit Arkansas and its residents as a whole. You see, for every $1 million spent on tourism, 8.4 jobs are created right here in our state.
If you are staycationing this summer, we hope you’ll take advantage of the many heritage tourism opportunities Arkansas affords. And if you’re entertaining friends or family from out of the area, don’t forget to share with them the array of heritage tourism opportunities that are the perfect addition to an Arkansas vacation.
