Arkansas Parks & Tourism

The tourism industry had its first $10 million year in tax collections for the fiscal year 2006. Tax collections from May 2005 to April 2006 totaled $10,477,648 - the highest collection ever.

The 2% Tourism Tax is collected on attraction admissions, lodging, campground and marina rentals, and earmarked for promoting vacationing in Arkansas. It was enacted by the legislature in the spring of 1989 and became effective in July of that year.

In April, collections were up 9.4 percent over the same month in 2005, and the fiscal year as a whole was up 8.4 percent, which helped contribute to the record collections. The collection total for the tourism tax is an indicator of how the tourism industry in Arkansas is faring. As collections go up, so go revenues and promotion.