There Are Stories to Tell - Jim Dailey

by Mark Peterson, Professor - December 14, 2017

We are delighted to welcome the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism as a new Breakthrough Solutions partner, and appreciate Jim Dailey and Brant Collins coming to meet with us. Incoming Arkansas Tourism Director and former mayor of Little Rock Jim Dailey shared with us these important insights:

• There is great potential in tourism in Arkansas – a lot of people have never been here.

• The second largest industry in Arkansas, tourism is significant for the state, with $7.7 billion impact that generates tax revenues and creates jobs.

• We will be focusing on city governments, as they can bring their communities together – their CVBs and chambers together.

• There are 52 state parks in Arkansas; these are also businesses that hire people and purchase goods and services.

• We have bicycle routes now; why not create tourism routes that connect the dots of small communities with things to see and do.

• There are many opportunities for tourism – heritage, arts, civil rights museums, Crystal Bridges, Johnny Cash museum, and Southern Civil Rights Trail. We are working on a Delta Heritage Trail that will go from Arkansas to New Orleans.

• There are 502 communities in the state and each has a story to tell. We can help them tell those stories.