Hot Springs remains the engine of Arkansas tourism, drawing 9.7 million visitors who spent more than $1.1 billion in 2024, according to a Longwoods International report presented to city tourism officials.
The numbers confirm what state travel data has shown for years. Garland County consistently ranks among the top counties in Arkansas for visitor spending, trailing only the state’s major metro areas.
A separate Garland County tourism report put 2024 visitor spending at $936.5 million, up 3.7 percent from $903 million in 2023. The industry supported more than 7,100 jobs in the county and generated nearly $24 million in local tax revenue. The two studies use different methodologies, but both point in the same direction. Tourism in Hot Springs keeps growing.
Hot Springs National Park anchors the draw. The park recorded about 2.46 million visits in 2024, making it one of the most visited national parks in the South. County figures credited park visitors with generating $184 million for the local economy in 2023.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is the city’s other heavyweight. The facility draws at least 2.5 million visitors a year for horse racing, gaming, and its hotel, according to an Oaklawn spokesperson. The Arkansas Derby has brought 68,000 people into Hot Springs in a single day, according to the Garland County Tourism and Economic Impact Report.
The lakes round out the picture. Lakes Hamilton, Catherine, and Ouachita draw boaters and anglers throughout the summer. Lake Ouachita is the largest lake located entirely inside Arkansas.
The spending shows up in city coffers. Hot Springs hospitality tax collections topped $10 million in 2024 for the first time, and reached $5.02 million by the middle of 2025. The tax applies to lodging and prepared food sales.
Visit Hot Springs says 75 percent of visitors come from out of state, and more than 70 percent of overnight travelers are repeat visitors. Downtown investment has followed the crowds, with $28.7 million in capital investments and 27 new businesses opening downtown in 2023 alone.
“About every weekend, there’s something special going on,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison told AY Magazine.
