Welcome Center has full schedule for Tourism Week

The Arkansas Welcome Center will celebrate Tourism Week May 8-11.

Tourism continues to be a big business in the region, and the traffic count proves it.

In 2016, the 6,000-square-foot Welcome Center, which is on Interstate 30 east of Texarkana, attracted an estimated 250,000 visitors, according to manager Melissa A. Adams.

“Tourism is one of Arkansas' largest industries. In 2015, the state hosted 26 million visitors and brought in $7.2 billion in tourism expenditures. National Travel and Tourism Week provides the perfect opportunity for us to express our appreciation to the Arkansas travelers who have made this growth possible,” a report states.

“We have visitors who ask if they can move in or stay,” Adams said.

The center has activities slated for each day of Tourism Week, including: May 8—Music by Alan & Jerry. May 9—Representatives of White Oak State Park, WestRock Coffee, DeGray and Daisy state parks; Resource Raccoon.

May 10—Music by the Melody Boys; representatives of Cossatot River State Park, WestRock Coffee, Washington Historic State Park, Ron Coleman Crystal Mine and Clinton Birthplace Home.

May 11—Representatives of Ron Coleman Crystal Mine; WestRock Coffee; Arkansas Game & Fish's Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Conservation Education Center; and Daisy State Park.