By proclamation of Governor Mike Beebe, and in recognition of the positive
economic, social, and cultural impact of the travel and tourism industry,
Arkansas will celebrate May 5-13 as Tourism Week. In 2011, 23 million visitors
traveled in Arkansas, spending an estimated $5.7 billion, which generated $297
million in state taxes and $108 million in local taxes.
Across the
state, communities are planning to salute Tourism Week in a variety of ways.
Following is a list of places and activities planned:
• Bentonville: The
Arkansas Welcome Center, located on US Highway 71 in Bella Vista, will celebrate
on Friday, May 11. Free drinks and snacks will be available thanks to area
Convention & Visitors Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce. Gift certificates
and coupons good at area attractions will be given away throughout the day. For
more information, contact William Armacost, Bentonville Welcome Center manager,
at 479-855-3111.
• Blytheville: The Arkansas Welcome Center in
Blytheville will celebrate throughout the week featuring displays from local
quilter Maxine Evans, the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, and Delta Economic
Development. The Welcome Center is conducting an “Art in Arkansas” art contest
for local artists, with a reception featuring Blytheville Mayor James Sanders
held on Friday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m. to honor the winners. On Monday, May 7, the
Center will celebrate Arkansas Tourist Appreciation Day by serving visitors with
cookies and lemonade. For more information, contact Carol Gozell, Blytheville
Welcome Center manager, at 870-762-2512.
• Corning: The Corning Welcome
Center will observe tourism week on several days, beginning Monday, May 7, when
a randomly selected tourist will be given a tote bag of goodies. On Tuesday, May
8, Kim Williams, travel writer for the Arkansas Delta, will be onsite visiting
with tourists from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Adam Long, Director of the
Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum & Educational Center of Piggott will also be on
hand. Refreshments will be served from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Wednesday, May
9, Nancy Kemp, Co-Publisher of Delta CrossRoads magazine will visit from 1:00 –
3:00 p.m. handing out copies of the magazine to tourists. Area antique shops,
fast food restaurants, and small business owners have been invited to “Plug My
Business” in an effort to entice tourists to stop and shop. Friday, May 11 will
wrap up the week will Charles Snapp, Tourism Director of Lawrence County sharing
his story of the 1964 visit by The Beatles from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A
documentary and 2’ x 5’ replica of Walnut Ridge’s “Abby Road” wall will be on
display, and a one-man live band will provide entertainment with music of The
Beatles. For more information, contact Barbara Harmon, Corning Welcome Center
manager, at 870-857-6014.
• El Dorado: On May 8 at the Arkansas Welcome
Center, Mayor Frank Hash will proclaim May 7 – 11 “Tourism Week” in El Dorado.
State Representative Matthew Shepherd will emcee the event. State Parks,
Recreation and Travel Commissioner Cindy Smith and John Ralston, Director of
Arkansas’ South Tourism Association will also participate. A representative from
AT&T will present South Arkansas Community College a ceremonial copy of the
2012 AT&T phone directory that features the El Dorado Conference Center on
the cover. The El Dorado Conference Center is celebrating its first year and has
become one of south Arkansas’s newest tourism attractions. AT&T will also
promote recycling in The Natural State. The event will begin at 11:00 am with
lunch served at noon.
The El Dorado Welcome Center will celebrate
throughout National Tourism Week by serving coffee and cookies daily throughout
the week. Each day will feature a Riceland Foods display. On Monday, May 7, Sara
Jones of White Oak/Poison Springs Park will share a presentation. On Tuesday,
May 8, guest presenter will be Jim Gann of Logoly State Park. May 8-9 will
feature the South Arkansas Historical Society. A guest speaker Historic
Washington State Park will join us May 9. On May 11 Keith Covington from Moro
Bay State Park will be the featured presenter. For more information, contact Gil
Gilbert, El Dorado Welcome Center manager at 870-881-9160.
•
Fayetteville: The Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau is celebrating
National Tourism Week with a “Pin It to Win It – Experience Fayetteville
Contest” beginning May 5 and running through May 13. To participate, contestants
will create a Pinterest board named “Experience Fayetteville Pin It to Win It”
and pin at least five Fayetteville pins that represent their Fayetteville
experience. Examples include favorite shops, restaurants, attractions, or
events. The winner will be announced on May 16 via press release and social
media, and will receive a Fayetteville-themed gift basket worth over $200. For
more information, or to view the rules and enter, visit
http://experiencefayeteville.com/pinit.php.
• Harrison: The Harrison
Welcome Center will celebrate on Wednesday, May 9 with popcorn, peanuts, and hot
dogs available during the day as well as local foods from area restaurants.
Local attractions will have representatives at the Center to pass out
information on their attractions. Visitors will receive giveaways all day. The
Harrison Mayor has been invited to present a local proclamation for National
Tourism Week. For more information, contact Bill Tanneberger, Harrison Welcome
Center manager, at 870-741-3343.
• Helena-West Helena: The staff of the
Arkansas Welcome Center located on the Highway 49 bypass at Helena-West Helena
will host a celebration on Thursday, May 10, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. A
light lunch will be provided, and local DJ Bennie Fonzie will provide music
representing Helena’s music festivals. Displays and exhibits will feature art,
photos, and Civil War artifacts. Samples of handmade items available for
purchase downtown will be on display as well. Mississippi River State Park will
showcase animal furs and skulls. Delta Heritage Trail State Park will have staff
on hand to answer questions about the new construction along the trail. An Area
Health Education Centers representative will be at the Center to take blood
pressure readings and give out information. For more information, contact Pam
Garofas, Helena-West Helena Welcome Center manager, at 870-338-7602.
•
Lake Village: The Lake Village Welcome Center will celebrate throughout the week
giving tourists free Riceland Foods rice packages, rice recipes and Pepsi. On
Tuesday, May 8, Lakeport Plantation staff will make a presentation. On
Wednesday, May 9, Cane Creek State Park will be on hand to tell tourists about
the park. A local music group will perform folk music. On Thursday, May 10, Lake
Village Chamber of Commerce staff will greet tourists and share information
about the community. For more information, contact Martin Reese, Lake Village
Welcome Center manager, at 870-265-5832.
• Little Rock: The Arkansas
Department of Parks and Tourism will host a Travel Rally at 11:00 a.m., on
Tuesday, May 8, on the front steps of the Arkansas State Capitol. Tourism
Director Joe David Rice will welcome those in attendance, followed by
presentations from Little Rock CVB Director Gretchen Hall and Miss Arkansas 2011
Kristen Glover. Governor Mike Beebe has been invited to read an official
proclamation declaring May 5-13 as Tourism Week in Arkansas, recognizing the
importance of the travel and tourism industry to the state. For more information
on the Travel Rally, contact Donna Perrin, Tourism Development manager, at
501-682-5240.
The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau will offer
hospitality training sessions for Central Arkansas cab drivers, hotel frontline
staff, visitor information representatives, attraction volunteers, airport
volunteers, and CVB staff. Hospitality frontline appreciation events will be
held at the Museum of Discovery and the Little Rock Zoo, and a complimentary
Taxi Wash is being hosted by the LRCVB.
• Mammoth Spring: The Mammoth
Spring Welcome Center will celebrate Tourism Week on Saturday, May 19, with free
helium balloons, live bluegrass music, free cake and drinks, and free Museum
Tours at the 1886 Frisco Depot Museum. There will also be a homemade ice cream
vendor on site. Door prizes will be given out. A grand prize will also be
awarded. For more information, contact Adam Davis, Mammoth Spring Welcome Center
manager, at 870-625-7382.
• Newton County: The Newton County Chamber of
Commerce is having proclamations signed by both the Newton County Judge and the
Mayor of Jasper proclaiming Tourism Week in the county and city. The signing
will be photographed by the local and county newspapers and will be included in
upcoming editions of the publications. Donnie Crain, Tourism Director for the
Chamber will write an Op Ed touting the importance of tourism to the local
economy. During National Tourism Week, randomly selected tourist visiting the
Chamber Shop and Visitor Information Center will be given gift certificates to
use toward the purchase of items at the shop. For more information, contact
Donnie Crain, Newton County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director, at
870-446-2455.
• North Little Rock: On Tuesday, May 8, North Little Rock
Visitors Bureau will hand out water, fans, magnets, and watches to the first 100
people visiting the Old Mill from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. On Wednesday, May 9,
the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame will give away golf tees, watches, and magnets.
There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Visitor Center in Burns Park on
May 10, where Mayor Patrick Hays will read a proclamation declaring the day as
North Little Rock Tourism Day. The Mayor will welcome tourists to the Visitor
Center. On Friday, May 11, staff will be on hand at the Arkansas Queen and
Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum giving out watches, fans, magnets, and stadium
cups. Two tickets for a cruise on the Arkansas Queen will be awarded to one
lucky visitor.
• Pocahontas: The Mayor of Pocahontas will proclaim
Monday, May 7 as Tourist Appreciation Day. Throughout the day, the Randolph
County Chamber of Commerce will serve refreshments to tourists. The staff will
be available to provide information about the area.
• Siloam Springs: The
Siloam Springs Welcome Center will be celebrating Tourism Week all week giving
out Little Debbie snacks, Cavender’s Seasoning, Riceland Rice, and Day Spring
monthly planners. On Friday, they will serve donuts and coffee for the early
travelers and hot dogs, potato salad, and baked beans for lunch. For more
information, contact Betty Ross, Siloam Springs Welcome Center manager at
479-524-4445.
• Texarkana: The Texarkana Welcome Center, located on
Interstate 30 East, will celebrate National Tourism Week on Friday, May 11 from
10:00 a.m. until noon. A local dulcimer group will entertain visitors, and
exhibits from State Parks and local tourist attractions will be displayed. For
more information, contact Paula Warren, Texarkana Welcome Center manager at
870-772-4301.
The Red River Welcome Center, located in Texarkana on US
Highway 71 North, will serve chilled bottled water, soft drinks, and cookies
provided by Brookshire’s of Ashdown on Tuesday May 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. Millwood State Park staff will be on hand to visit with tourists. Nikki
Cherry, Nashville City Park Director and “Trax” the dinosaur will be promoting
the upcoming Nashville Dinosaur Festival. Door prizes will be given away,
including two free admissions to the Crater of Diamonds State Park, two free
surrey rides at Historic Washington State Park, and Dinosaur Festival T-shirts.
For more information, contact Sheila Nichols, Red River Welcome Center manager
at 870-772-7511.
• Van Buren & Fort Smith: The Arkansas Welcome
Center at Van Buren/Fort Smith will be celebrating throughout Tourism Week by
treating tourists with Arkansas-made products. They will have samples of
Yarnell’s Ice Cream, Riceland Rice, Shoestring Potatoes from Allen Canning,
Little Debbie’s snacks from McKee Baking, Planters Peanuts, Kopper Kettle
Candies, Petit Jean Hot Dogs, Pickled Vegetables from Old South, and Day
Planners from Dayspring. On Wednesday, May 9, the mayors of Van Buren and Fort
Smith will read an official proclamation announcing the week as Tourism Week.
The Fort Smith and Van Buren Advertising & Promotion Commissions will
capture a lucky tourist and make them an honorary Deputy Marshal. They will also
be presented with a special gift. For more information, contact Barbara Wilson,
Van Buren/Fort Smith Welcome Center manager, at 479-474-9512.
• West
Memphis: The Arkansas Welcome Center located on Interstate 40 in West Memphis
will celebrate on Wednesday, May 9, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Hot dogs, chips,
cookies, soda, and water will be served to tourists. There will also be door
prizes given away, and as a special treat, there will be a karaoke machine
available to help tourists unwind and relax. The West Memphis mayor has been
invited to issue a proclamation and elected officials have been invited to come
out to meet and greet tourists as they stop at the Center. For more information,
contact Calanda Young, West Memphis Welcome Center manager at
870-735-3637.
For general information on Tourism Week, contact Kristine
Puckett, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, 1 Capitol Mall, Little Rock,
AR 72201. 501-682-5240.
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