Arkansas Tourism Tax Revenue Rose in First Half of 2026
State tourism tax collections climbed to over $14 million through June 2026, signaling industry growth.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Hospitality
Live Poll
Is the tourism and hospitality industry in your local area currently growing or declining?
Arkansas collected $14.234 million in 2% tourism tax revenue during the first half of 2026, marking an 8.5% increase over the same period in 2025. This rebound follows a slight decline observed in 2025.
Why it matters
The growth in tax revenue and tourism sector jobs reflects a strengthening hospitality market across the state. This data is monitored via the Arkansas Tourism Ticker, which tracks the financial health of the sector through tax performance and employment trends.
Total tourism tax revenue hit $14.234 million for the first half of 2026, an 8.5% increase compared to the $13.122 million collected in the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, hospitality tax collections across 17 surveyed cities rose 2%.
The players
Arkansas Tourism Ticker
This monitoring tool tracks the health of the state's tourism industry by evaluating hospitality tax collections and sector-specific employment data.
The details
The tourism tax revenue, which applies to items including hotel stays, camping fees, short-term rentals, watercraft rentals, and attraction tickets, reached $2.961 million in June 2026 alone. Additionally, statewide tourism industry employment grew by 2.5% during the first six months of the year, with the Northwest Arkansas metro area seeing a notable 7.9% increase in tourism jobs.
Timeline
2024 served as the baseline year for tourism tax collection comparisons.
Tourism tax revenue totaled $13.122 million from January through June 2025.
From January to June 2026, tourism tax revenue reached $14.234 million.
In June 2026, monthly tourism tax revenue amounted to $2.961 million.
Market Landscape
The 8.5% growth in tax revenue marks a reversal of the 0.26% decline observed in 2025. This shift highlights a recovery in the state's hospitality market as consumer spending on travel and tourism services has rebounded.
The rise in tax collections and employment suggests a more active travel and hospitality market across the state. Travelers may find increased availability in the sector, though higher activity levels could influence local pricing for lodging and tourism-related services.
The takeaway
The rebound in tourism tax revenue highlights a robust recovery for Arkansas hospitality businesses after a stagnant 2025. Residents and visitors should anticipate continued activity in the tourism sector as job growth and tax receipts show broad momentum.
Further reading
For more context on the state's travel sector, visit Arkansas Hospitality.
Live Poll
Is the tourism and hospitality industry in your local area currently growing or declining?
