Outdoor recreation provides tourism growth opportunity in Arkansas

Katherine Andrews, director of the state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, pictured during a fishing trip in Stuttgart. From hunting and fishing to mountain biking, hiking, boating and camping, Arkansas is lauded for its abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. The state’s scenic rivers, lakes, forests, mountains, caves, creeks, roadways, airstrips and trails offer limitless opportunities. They also boost the state’s prospects for job creation and economic growth. According to the most recent data published this past November by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Arkansas’ outdoor recreation economy grew 23% from 2020 to 2021. That is the largest recorded measure for Arkansas since the BEA started calculating the size of the outdoor recreation economy in 2012. The report showed that outdoor recreation accounts for 2.4% ($3.5 billion) of Arkansas’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and includes about 40,000 jobs. Katherine Andrews says capitalizing on the growth trend is essential to ensure Arkansas continues to be a tourism destination for outdoor recreation and a core driver for economic growth. “It’s inherent to our DNA,” she said. “Outdoor recreation and tourism are one and the same.” Andrews is entering her second full year as the Office of Outdoor Recreation director in the state’s […]

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