Destination Arkansas

Destination Arkansas is a project sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism that markets the state of Arkansas to tour operators and journalists. The project is being pursued by the Group Travel Section of the State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commission.

Destination Arkansas launched its first sales mission to the United Kingdom in March 2004. The annual budget for the project is $55,000. The director of Destination Arkansas until June 2006 was Kevin Sexton. The current director is Melinda Hawes. Destination Arkansas has worked closely in the past with the Arkansas Group Travel Alliance. Destination Arkansas has also solicited the services of Unique Tour & Travel Company of Memphis to make the state one destination in international tour packages.

Destination Arkansas markets the Clinton Library and Heifer International as competitive destinations for European travel in the American South. Noted Joe Rice of the Department of Parks and Tourism, "Most of them don't even know what we have here. We think Heifer and the Clinton Library will be a big draw. Lots of Europeans go to Memphis for Graceland and Elvis, and Bill Clinton was kind of an Elvis president."

References

• Carl D. Holcombe, "Little Rock Begins Trolling for UK Tourists," Arkansas Business, March 8, 2004.