ARKANSAS WELCOMES 54.3 MILLION VISITORS AS TOURISM GENERATES $17.4 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND RECORD FY26 2% TAX COLLECTIONS

Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism announced the findings of the 2025 Economic Impact Report, which shows that visitors generated $10.2 billion in spending across Arkansas’ visitor economy last year. This activity produced a total economic impact of $17.4 billion, supported 71,860 direct jobs statewide, and contributed to record visitation levels — with 54.3 million people visiting The Natural State in 2025, the highest ever recorded. In addition, Arkansas closed Fiscal Year 2026 with 2% tourism tax collections reaching an all-time high of $26.9 million, reinforcing the strength of Arkansas’ tourism economy and enhancing the state’s ability to deliver strategic statewide promotion and targeted national outreach that drive visitation and economic growth.

#IPW2025

 ARKANSAS UNVEILS NEW ERA OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AT IPW 2025

Trail innovation, inclusivity, and Olympic-level cycling highlight The Natural State’s growing global impact

 

At IPW 2025, Arkansas Tourism unveiled new infrastructure plans that reinforce the state’s growing reputation as a national and global leader in outdoor recreation, sustainable infrastructure and inclusive access to the outdoors.

 

Key initiatives include new trail systems and access projects. Two gravity-oriented trail experiences are in the works, one in Mena in the Ouachita Mountains and one in Bella Vista in the Ozark Mountains.

 

The Trails at Mena will feature a mountain bike lift—a gravity-fed system similar to ski lifts—bringing users to the top of backcountry trails where the descent is the focus. When complete, it will be the largest lift-served mountain bike park in the world, built from the ground up exclusively for biking, with no ski infrastructure or legacy constraints. The park will be designed entirely for two wheels and will operate 365 days a year. The project is a model for public-private collaboration among federal, state, and local partners. The experience will open new possibilities for riders and redefine access to backcountry experiences. With millions of residents within a three- to six-hour drive, Mena offers significant potential as a premier weekend destination for outdoor enthusiasts across the South-Central U.S.