Tourism Week starts this Saturday May 2 and goes on until Monday May 10. Towns across the state of Arkansas have a lot of activities plan, including here in Texarkana.

According to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism:
By proclamation of Governor Asa Hutchinson, and in recognition of the positive economic, social, and cultural impact of the travel and tourism industry, Arkansas will celebrate May 2-10 as Tourism Week. In 2014, more than 26 million visitors traveled in Arkansas, spending an estimated $6.7 billion, which generated $460 million in state taxes and $460 million in state and local taxes.
The events planned here in Texarkana are:

• Texarkana: The Texarkana Welcome Center, located on Interstate 30 East, will celebrate National Tourism Week May 5-7.

May 5, there will be a representative from White Oak/Poison Springs State Park and Melody Boys Bluegrass Music presented by the Texarkana Museums System.

May 6, Texarkana Mayor Ruth Penny Bell will present a proclamation, and will greet guests along with representatives from multiple state parks. Visitors can also enjoy antique cars and a sample of Williams Tavern’s famous Earthquake Cake.

May 7, the Genoa High School Band will perform and the Victory Riders will make an appearance. Riceland Foods and Cavender’s Seasoning samples will be given out along with other Arkansas products such as Yarnell’s Ice Cream, Aromatique products and Post Wineries muscadine juice. For more information, contact Melissa Adams, Texarkana Welcome Center manager at 870-772-4301.

• Texarkana: The Red River Welcome Center, located on U.S. Hwy 71 North, will host an event on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will serve free BBQ sandwiches, chips and bottled water. There will be samples from Riceland and Cavender’s as well as Arkansas wrist bands and pine tree seedlings given out. Grand prize drawings will include day passes for Holiday Springs Water Park, breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn, a stay at the Hampton Inn and two tickets to the Chase Rice concert during Texarkana’s Rail Fest. For more information, contact Sheila Nichols, Red River Welcome Center manager at 870-772-7511.

Other activities around the state that are close by include:
• El Dorado: The Arkansas Welcome Center in El Dorado, located on U.S. Hwy 167, will serve coffee, mints and chocolate chip cookies to visitors throughout the week, and pass out samples of Riceland rice along with the 2013 Riceland Rice Winning Recipes book. On May 2, the El Dorado Police Department will greet guests. Displays from the local Mahaw Festival and historic photos of the El Dorado area will be on display all week. For more information, contact Gil Gilbert, El Dorado Welcome Center manager at 870-881-9160.
• Hot Springs: The Visitor Information Center in Hot Springs, located at 629 Central Avenue, will host a drawing every day May 4-8 for free admission to attractions across Hot Springs. The participating attractions include: Hot Springs Mountain Tower, The Gangster Museum of America, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Maxwell Blade’s Theater of Magic, and Mid-America Science Museum. All downtown information booths will include information about the economic impact tourism has on the area. For more information, contact Caitlin Moore at 501-321-2277.

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