Arkansas to Celebrate “See America Week” May 12 - 20

First posted on 04-30-2007

In recognition of the positive economic, social and cultural impact of the travel and tourism industry, Arkansas will celebrate May 12 - 20 as See Arkansas Week/National Tourism Week, and Monday, May 14, as Arkansas Tourist Appreciation Day for the travelers who actually make that impact happen.

In 2006, more than 23 million visitors traveled in Arkansas, spending an estimated $5 billion, which generated nearly $283 million in state taxes and $106 million in local taxes.

Across the state, communities are planning to salute See Arkansas Week/National Tourism Week in a variety of ways. Following is a list of places and activities planned:

• Bentonville: The Bentonville Arkansas Welcome Center will celebrate See Arkansas Week on Monday, May 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The center will serve refreshments and give away a basket of goodies from local merchants to one lucky tourist. Everyone is encouraged to come by and pick up a FREE 2007 Vacation Planning Kit, Arkansas lapel pin and bumper sticker, and let the friendly staff help you plan your next adventure in The Natural State. For more information, contact Phyllis Spradlin, Bentonville Welcome Center manager, at (479) 855-3111.

• Blytheville: On Wednesday, May 16, staff at the Blytheville Welcome Center will celebrate See Arkansas Week/Arkansas Tourist Appreciation Day by serving refreshments to visitors from 10 a.m. until noon. Arkansas state lapel pins and litter bags will be given to visitors who stop by the center. Local officials have been invited to greet guests. For more information, contact Diane James, Blytheville Welcome Center manager, at (870) 762-2512.

• Corning: Corning Welcome Center will celebrate Arkansas Tourist Appreciation Day on Monday, May 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. by serving tourists and visitors cookies and soft drinks. For more information, contact Phyllis Burrow, manager of the Corning Welcome Center, at (870) 857-6014.

• El Dorado: The El Dorado Welcome Center will celebrate See Arkansas Week on Tuesday, May 15, beginning at 11:30 a.m. El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas has been invited and will present a proclamation from the city. Others on the invitation list include members of the El Dorado Advertising & Promotion Commission, Chamber of Commerce Board, El Dorado Wildcatters, and the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. Hot dogs, drinks, chips and cookies will be served. For more information, contact Barbara Cutter, manager of the El Dorado Welcome Center, at (870) 881-9160.

• Fort Smith & Van Buren: On Thursday, May 17, the Van Buren/Fort Smith Welcome Center will celebrate See Arkansas Week with the mayors of each city reading their proclamations. The directors of the Van Buren and Fort Smith Advertising & Promotion Commissions will “kidnap” a lucky tourist, deputize and present them with a gift basket full of items from the area.

On Wednesday, May 16, there will be booths from War Eagle Mill, Petit Jean Meats, and Days Inn Alliance at the Welcome Center. The representatives from these companies will greet the tourists and present them with samples and gifts.

All week long Welcome Center staff will show their appreciation to the tourists by giving away products made in Arkansas, such as Riceland Rice, Kopper Kettle Candies, Allen’s shoestring potatoes, pickled vegetables from Bryant’s Preserving, and Little Debbie Cakes. For more information, contact Barbara Wilson, manager of Van Buren/Fort Smith Welcome Center, at (479) 474-9512.

• Harrison: The Harrison Welcome Center will celebrate Tourist Appreciation Day on Monday, May 14, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Coffee, donuts and cookies will be served for breakfast. For lunch, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., sandwiches, chips, dips, veggies, chicken strips, bottled water and soft drinks will be served. All items are donated by local businesses. Mayor Pat Moles will proclaim the day as Tourism Day for Harrison. City, county, and state officials will be in attendance to help greet our visitors throughout the day. Local radio stations will do remote broadcasts from 11:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. Door prizes, consisting of T-shirts, lodging, meals, and river trip certificates will be given out during See Arkansas Week. For more information, contact Norma Sims, Harrison Welcome Center manager, at (870) 741-3343.

• Helena-West Helena: The Helena-West Helena Welcome Center will celebrate See Arkansas Week with a “Business After Hours” reception, May 15 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Phillips County Chamber members, local officials, tourists, and the general public are invited to attend. Officials from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism will be honored guests. Door prizes will be given away to tourists. For more information, contact Pam Garofas, manager of Helena-West Helena Welcome Center, at (870) 338-7602.

• Lake Village: The Lake Village Welcome Center will celebrate Tourist Appreciation Day on Wednesday, May 16, by hosting “A Taste of Chicot.” Local restaurants in Chicot County will each donate a menu item for tourists to sample. For more information, contact Martin Reese, manager of Lake Village Welcome Center, at (870) 265-5832.

• Magnolia: The Chamber of Commerce asks that everyone wear red on Monday, May 14. On Saturday, May 19, during the awards ceremony of their Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cook-Off, they will highlight See Arkansas Week and thank all of the tourists in attendance. For more information contact Cammie Hambrice, Executive Director of the Magnolia/Columbia County Chamber of Commerce at (870) 234-4352.

• Mammoth Spring: The Mammoth Spring Welcome Center will kick off the week on Monday, May 14, with a live band. Refreshments will be served to guests and door prizes will be given throughout the day. The mayor of Mammoth Spring will be working in the center welcoming guests. During the rest of the week, refreshments will be served daily, and a complimentary meal from one of the area restaurants will be given away each day to a lucky tourist. For more information, contact Adam Davis, manager of Mammoth Spring Welcome Center, at (870) 625-7364.

• Ozark: The Ozark Tourist Information center will declare a City Tourism Day in a special ceremony. Refreshments will be served to tourists throughout See Arkansas Week. For more information, contact Charlene Thompson at (479) 667-2525.

• Siloam Springs: The Siloam Springs Welcome center will be celebrating See Arkansas Week all week long. Refreshments will be served and Arkansas made products will be given to tourists. Among these products will be samples of breads, along with spreads from the War Eagle Mill, samples of Petit Jean meats, sample size bags of rice along with prize winning recipe cards from Riceland Foods, Glass Blue Birds from Terra Studios, a calendar book from Day Springs Cards, shoestring potatoes from Allen’s Cannery, and bookmarks and scratch pads from Siloam Springs Printing. Steve Dunlap with Arkansas Game & Fish will be on hand Tuesday, May 15, to assist with welcoming tourists and answering questions regarding Arkansas’s game and fish. Little Debbie cakes and coffee from RoArk Coffees will be served to tourists. For more information, contact Ruth Anne Richard, Siloam Springs Welcome Center manager, at (479) 524-4445.

• Texarkana: To kickoff this week designated to bring attention to the importance of tourism as an industry, and to honor and thank the traveling public, a celebration will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on May 14. For the two hour celebration, activities planned include: refreshments for visitors, music by local musicians, several Arkansas State Parks exhibits for visitors to enjoy, local museums with displays and information, and local dignitaries to greet and visit with everyone. Located on I-30 East between mile marker 7 and 8 the welcome center/rest area is situated on 20 beautifully landscaped acres with many amenities for visitors to enjoy. For more information, contact Paula Warren, manager of the Texarkana Welcome Center, at (870) 772-4301.

Red River Welcome Center on Hwy 71, 4 miles North of I-30 in Texarkana, is celebrating Tourism week, Friday, May 18, by hosting “Picnic on the Grounds”, where grilled hot dogs will be served with lemonade and assorted homemade goodies to all tourists. For more information, contact Jonette Jones, Red River Welcome Center manager at (870) 772-7511.

• West Memphis: The West Memphis Welcome Center will celebrate Tourist Appreciation Day on Monday May 14, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Hot dogs, cookies, and soft drinks will be served, and door prizes will be given away to tourists. Local dignitaries, city and county officials, and emergency personnel will be on hand to greet the traveling public and welcome them to the great State of Arkansas. For more information, contact Calanda Young, West Memphis Welcome Center manager, at (870) 735-3637.
For general information on See Arkansas Week, contact Kristine Puckett, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201. (501) 682-5240.

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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
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