According to a study commissioned by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, more than 50 million tourists made a stop in the Natural State in 2023.
The was conducted by Tourism Economics with input from DK Shifflet and it found that 50.7 million people visited Arkansas in 2023. In the year 2022, 48.3 million people visited the state meaning 2023 saw an increase of 17.1%.
According to Arkansas State Parks, 8.4 million visitors were recorded visiting our parks in 2023 with 4.3 million visiting National Park Service sites in the state.
The study found that new visitors spent an additional $700 million, pushing the industry to verge of becoming a $10 billion industry and solidifying its position as Arkansas’ second largest economic driver.
“Tourism is our state’s second largest industry and when it grows, Arkansas’ entire economy grows with it,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “I’m proud our investments in – and promotion of – Arkansas’ outdoor recreation are paying off, and I’m glad we’re welcoming more visitors than ever to The Natural State.”
Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Shea Lewis added that Arkansas offers a unique experience not found anywhere else.
“It is undeniable that Arkansas is now a premier destination, especially for outdoor recreation, because we offer a year-round outdoor experience not found elsewhere,” said Lewis.
In the study they found that the highest spend categories by visitors in 2023 were transportation, food and lodging. Transportation accounted for the largest share of overall visitor spending – 30% of the total or $3 billion. Food purchases made up 28% of tourist spending and lodging at 17%.
According to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, collections for the state’s 2% Tourism Reinvestment Tax increased 5% to $25.8 million. The dollars from the 2% Tourism Reinvestment Tax are allocated for the marketing and promotion of tourism in the state and is largely responsible for the industry’s continued growth.
“Arkansas Tourism broadened its marketing footprint in 2023 to include 15 new media markets, primarily in western states but also in North Carolina and Illinois, which research accurately predicted to be opportunity markets for Arkansas,” Lewis said. “We effectively communicated Arkansas’ point of difference in that we are a state with outdoor offerings that can be enjoyed year round regardless of seasonality.”
Overall, $806 million in tax receipts were collected from visitors. Of the total taxes collected, $574 million were for state taxes with the remaining $232 million going into local coffers.
In addition to tourist revenue, the Arkansas Tourism industry supported 70,026 job. This was a 2.8% increase from 2022 and earned $2.2 billion, which is up 4.8%.
“Governor Sanders is a strong proponent of Arkansas’ tourism industry, and she has challenged us to take our message to new audiences and make Arkansas a national and international destination,” Lewis said. “As the numbers contained within this economic impact report clearly indicate, we are making great progress toward that goal. Our marketing message and strategy is resonating with the travel consumers who are finding Arkansas as a place they can enjoy all year long.”
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