HOT SPRINGS -- Visitors to Garland County generated $745 million in 2015, and visitor spending in the county generated more than $57 million in tax revenue for state and local governments, according to a new economic impact study released Friday.
Travel-related expenditures in Hot Springs grew 33 percent, or $185 million, since 2010, according to the study, which was commissioned by the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission.
The 33 percent increase exceeds the national rate of 27 percent of increased travel expenditures for the same time period, according to the study by inVeritas.
The company is a "nationally recognized national public affairs firm specializing in management consulting, strategic communications, advocacy and research," according to a news release from Visit Hot Springs, the city's convention and visitors bureau, which is operated by the commission.
According to the study, 2.97 million people visited Hot Springs and Garland County in 2015. The study found that 7,455 jobs are directly supported by travel and tourism, up from 7,142 jobs in 2014, the release said.
Travel-generated local payrolls totaled $127,584,162, according to the study.
Visitor spending in Garland County generated $15.49 million in local tax revenue, it showed.
"These funds help pay for jobs and public programs such as firefighters, police, teachers and infrastructure," the study said.
Garland County is the state's second-biggest recipient of tourism dollars, receiving 10.2 percent of state tourism dollars in 2015. Overall, visitors spent nearly $7.3 billion in Arkansas in 2015, up nearly 9 percent from 2014.
The study says visitors "come from all over," but the top four "origin states," in addition to in-state visitors, are Texas, Missouri, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
"All indications are that 2015 and the first half of 2016 have been very good years for the travel and tourism component of Hot Springs' economy," Steve Arrison, chief executive officer of Visit Hot Springs, said in the release.
"The inVeritas data confirm our own figures and show why Hot Springs continues to be Arkansas' No. 1 tourism destination."
The inVeritas study cited Oaklawn Racing & Gaming's expansion as the most influential factor on the city's tourism in 2015.
The study listed other "notable events" affecting Hot Springs' economy, including the opening of Henderson State University's Hot Springs campus; the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade; and a joint venture by HealthSouth Corp. and CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs.
Metro on 08/08/2016