Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – June 5, 2024 – Jonesboro might not be a bustling metropolis, but it’s no stranger to tourism. With 27 hotels inside city limits, and two more set to open soon, the city boasts over 2,400 hotel rooms.
But just how utilized are these accommodations?
During events like the eclipse, local tournaments, festivals, or concerts, hotels are either completely booked or operating at near full capacity. The question then arises: where do these travelers come from, and what do they do when they get here?
The City of Jonesboro utilizes Placer.ai data to quantify some of these questions. According to their website, placer.ai is a location analytics company that collects geolocation data from mobile devices enabled to share data anonymously.
Visitors come from all over the region to attend local events. Data even shows that they come from across the country in some cases!
For the April 6 Oasis Festival in Downtown Jonesboro, approximately 8,366 visitors attended the event, the median age was 32, the average time spent at the event was 44 minutes, and the total number of visitors from outside a 100-mile radius was 1,337.
Where did these visitors go after the festival? Data shows that 22% went home, 10% went out to eat, 7% went shopping, 2% went to work, and 2% went to a hotel.
For the Solar Eclipse event on April 8, Northeast Arkansas saw thousands of visitors to our area across the weekend. Hotel prices skyrocketed and RV parks were sold out years in advance.
Placer.ai data for Craighead Forest Park, Central Baptist Church, and Joe Mack Campbell Park shows that there were visitors from New York, North Carolina, California, Oregon, and even Alaska. All right here in NEA!
Regardless of their origin, Advertising & Promotion Commission Executive Director Craig Rickert told JRN that all hotel guests contribute to the city’s tourism and quality of life efforts through a uniform 4% hotel tax.
Managed by the A&P Commission, these funds are earmarked for community reinvestment, supporting local events, and organizations. Detailed financial records are publicly accessible on the A&P website that show how much tax revenue was collected each month, and where it went.
Rickert explained, “We distribute the 3% tax to groups and organizations that help drive tourism and quality of life in Jonesboro. Downtown BBQ Fest, DJA, Juneteenth, local swim teams, etc. The 1% tax is specifically for Jonesboro Parks and Recreation projects. The new soccer fields at Joe Mack Campbell Park are a recent example of how those funds are used.”
From bustling Downtown festivals to serene city parks, our city buzzes with energy from all corners of the country. Thanks to the A&P Commission’s stewardship, our tourism thrives, fueling our community’s heartbeat and funding local projects we all love.
Whether you’re a homegrown local or just passing through, you can be sure that your stay leaves a mark on our vibrant community here in Northeast Arkansas.