≡-US State Arkansas Achieves Record-Breaking Tourism Surge with Dollar Ten Point Three Billion in Visitor Spending and Over 1 Lac Jobs Fueled by Powerful Travel Demand – Viral of Today

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Home » America Travel News » US State Arkansas Achieves Record-Breaking Tourism Surge with Dollar Ten Point Three Billion in Visitor Spending and Over 1 Lac Jobs Fueled by Powerful Travel Demand Thursday, July 24, 2025The U.S. travel and tourism industry is on an incredible trajectory to recovery and in 2024 Arkansas leads the nation with skyrocketing growth in visitation, outdoor recreation and economic impact. With five point two million out of town visitors, the state produced a whopping dollar seventeen point four billion in total tourism and outdoor-related economic activity. With visitor spending at an all-time high of dollar ten point three billion and more than 1 lac jobs supported from all sectors, Arkansas has become a growing force in the American travel marketplace. The outdoor economy alone kicked in seven point three billion dollars and thousands of additional jobs, and the state was number one in the nation in increase in outdoor construction, and hunting GDP gains.The United States travel industry experienced a major leap forward in 2024, with Arkansas emerging as one of its brightest success stories. Backed by robust growth across tourism and outdoor recreation sectors, the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism released a comprehensive economic impact report showing that the state’s travel-related activity delivered a massive dollar seventeen point four billion boost to the economy.This outstanding performance firmly places Arkansas at the forefront of America’s rising travel destinations, driven by impressive increases in visitor numbers, job creation, and outdoor development.Arkansas Draws Five Point Two Million Visitors and Generates Dollar Ten Point Three Billion in Travel SpendingIn 2024, Arkansas welcomed five point two million visitors, representing a from the previous year—fueling a wide range of industries, from hotels and dining to shopping and entertainment.According to research by Tourism Economics, part of the Oxford Economics group, tourist spending reached an average of dollar twenty-eight point two million per day, reinforcing the travel sector’s essential role in supporting both urban hubs and small communities.Travel and Tourism Support Over 1 Lac Jobs StatewideArkansas’ tourism surge has had a transformational impact on employment The report states that tourism directly or indirectly supports over 1 lac jobs, spanning hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation, logistics, construction, and warehousing. With one in every 18 jobs in Arkansas now tied to tourism, the industry has cemented itself as a vital and resilient component of the state’s economy.Food and Beverage Travel Spending Rises Sharply to Dollar Three BillionAmong the various segments of visitor spending, food and beverage services saw the strongest year-over-year growth, climbing 6.5 percent to dollar three billion. Arkansas’ growing culinary appeal—from Southern staples to farm-to-table trends—is attracting food lovers nationwide, particularly in cities like Little Rock, Hot Springs, and Bentonville.This boom also underscores the value of cultural and dining experiences in travelers’ itineraries and their positive ripple effect on local economies.Outdoor Recreation Becomes a Key Economic Driver with Dollar Seven Point Three Billion ImpactIn a landmark move, Arkansas released outdoor recreation data as a standalone component of its tourism economy. Based on 2023 data, outdoor recreation in the state contributed a remarkable dollar seven point three billion, while supporting 68,000 jobs. Since 2019, the outdoor economy has expanded by 33 percent, significantly outpacing the national growth average of 27 percenMuch of this strength stems from a unique economic makeup—over one-third of Arkansas’ outdoor value comes from manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing—making it more resilient to economic downturns than leisure-only economies.Arkansas Leads the Nation in Outdoor Construction GrowthBetween 2019 and 2023, Arkansas achieved a 52.7 percent growth in outdoor amenity construction, ranking number one in the United States. Investments in trails, parks, river access points, and other infrastructure have paid off by drawing more outdoor-oriented travelers.Over 2,000 New Outdoor Jobs Created in 2024To better measure the fast-growing outdoor economy, the state partnered with ARData, a specialized data analytics platform, to develop a new employment tracking system. In 2024 alone, more than 2,000 new outdoor-related jobs were created, including roles in trail development, gear manufacturing, recreation services, and environmental support fields.This progress equips Arkansas to align workforce strategies with the growing demand in eco-tourism, adventure travel, and sustainability-focused industries.Arkansas Emerges as a National Travel and Outdoor Recreation LeaderFrom the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas has become a well-rounded destination for both leisure and outdoor adventure. The 2024 tourism report confirms that the state is not only drawing millions of travelers but also building an economy that’s diverse, durable, and forward-looking.With strong year-over-year growth across all key sectors, Arkansas is proving that natural beauty, cultural depth, and smart investment can position a state as a leader in the next era of US travel.Arkansas 2024 Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Key FiguresMetric 2024 Value Growth/NotesTotal Visitors Five point two million +2.6 percent from 2023Visitor Spending Dollar ten point three billion +4 percent from 2023Total Tourism Economic Impact Dollar seventeen point four billion Overall contributionDaily Tourist Spending Dollar twenty-eight point two million Supports jobs and businessesJobs Supported by Tourism 1 lac One in every 18 Arkansas jobsFood & Beverage Visitor Spending Dollar three billion +6.5 percent year-over-yearDollar seven point three billion +33 percent growth since 2019Outdoor Jobs Created in 2024 Over 2,000 Based on ARData metricsOutdoor Amenity Construction Growth Number 1 in the US at 52.7 percent 2019–2023GDP Growth from Hunting Activities Third in the United States Major traditional recreation driverThe state’s ability to combine natural assets with economic planning makes it a compelling model for other US destinations aiming to revitalize their travel economies

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