Communities across the state will be recognizing the travel and tourism industry, beginning Saturday.
The first week of May is recognized as the National Travel and Tourism Week. Because of that, May 3-11 was proclaimed as Arkansas Tourism Week by Gov. Mike Beebe.
The industry welcomed more than 23 million visitors to Arkansas in 2013. The visitors spent about $5.9 billion, which generated $311 million in state taxes and $113 million in local taxes.
Here’s a rundown of the Tourism Week celebrations:
Batesville: Event set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the new office of the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council. For more information, call Cathy Drew, Ozark Gateway executive director, at 800-264-0316.
Bentonville: Event set for all day Saturday at the Bentonville Welcome Center, located at 13750 Visitors Center Drive off U.S. 71 North. For more information, call William Armacost, the center’s manager, at 479-855-3111.
Blytheville: Event set for May 10 at the Blytheville Welcome Center. For more information, call Carol Gozell, the center’s manager, at 870-762-2512.
Corning: Events will be held throughout the week at the Corning Welcome Center. For more information, call Barbara Harmon, the center’s manager, at 870-857-6014.
El Dorado: The El Dorado Welcome Center will have events throughout the week to celebrate Tourism Week. For more information, contact the center’s manager, Gil Gilbert, at 870-881-9160.
Eureka Springs: The Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce will host a day of celebration and recognition Wednesday, for what has been dubbed Tourism Day by the city. All the festivities are set for the Village at Pine Mountain parking lot.
Harrison: Tourism Week festivities will be held Tuesday in Harrison at the welcome center. For more information, contact Bill Tanneberger, the center’s manager, at 870-741-3343.
Helena-West Helena: The Tourism Week celebration in the Helena-West Helena will focus on a “Party on the Porch.” No date was provided. For more information, call Pam Garofas, the welcome center’s manager, at 870-338-7602.
Lake Village: The welcome center at Lake Village will have a few events throughout the week. For more information, call Martin Reese, the center’s manager, at 870-265-5832.
Little Rock: The capital city will hold a Travel Day Rally on Tuesday at the Bernice Gardens. Mayor Mark Stodola will make a proclamation. Events of the day include a presentation from Gretchen Hall, CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, on the city’s first Service Champion Award winner and a video contest highlighting travel effect, and a presentation outlining the economic effect of travel in Arkansas and the story of how tourism helped to transform the SoMa district.
Mammoth Spring: The event is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at the Mammoth Spring Welcome Center. For more information, call Adam Davis, the center’s manager, at 870-625-7382.
Newton County: The Newton County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a “Salute to Our Visitors” during Tourism Week in Jasper and across Newton County. For more information on the celebration, contact Donnie Crain, the Newton County Chamber of Commerce tourism director, at 870-446-2455.
Siloam Springs: The celebration in Siloam Springs is set to last all week. For more, call Betty Ross, the welcome center’s manager, at 479-524-445.
Texarkana: The celebration in Texarkana will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the welcome center. For more information, call Paula Warren, the center’s manager, at 870-772-4301.
The Red River Welcome Center: This welcome center, also located in Texarkana, will host an event as part of Tourism Week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. For more information, call Sheila Nichols, the center’s manager, at 870-772-7511.
Van Buren & Fort Smith: The two northwest Arkansas cities will celebrate tourism all week long. For more information, call Kevin Billings, the welcome center’s manager, at 479-474-9512.
West Memphis: The event is set for the West Memphis Welcome Center on Thursday as part of the Tourism Week celebration. For more information, call Calanda Young, the center’s manager, at 870-735-3637.
For more on the celebrations throughout the state, click here.
Contact Jessica Ledbetter at the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism at 682-1676 for information on Tourism Week.
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