HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — A short video produced by Visit Hot Springs illustrates in animation and live action the $1 billion economic impact that tourism delivers annually to Hot Springs and Garland County.

Produced by the VHS Marketing Department, the video is intended to help remind residents and others how vital tourism is to the city, Marketing Director Bill Solleder said.

“Charts and lists often fail to connect with everyone,” Solleder said, “so we put together this three-and-a-half-minute video to make it easier to understand the benefits our visitors deliver to Hot Springs every year.”

The video combines clever animated action with live-action scenes from throughout the city to illustrate how $189 million in residents’ wages are the result of 9.8 million visitors each year, with 75 percent of those visitors coming from out of state.

It shows scenes from Garvan Woodland Gardens, the Northwoods Trails, Oaklawn, area lakes, activities such as the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Running of the Tubs World Championship Bathtub Races, downtown scenes and others.

Solleder said the statistics were compiled from economic impact studies conducted by Garland County, the state of Arkansas, Visit Hot Springs and Longwoods International’s Travel USA Visitor Profile Study. The figures are from 2023 and 2024, he said.

“We can use this video in civic club talks, citizen gatherings and on our website to help folks understand how our work to promote the Hot Springs area pays off in real benefits for our city and county,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. “It’s a quick and easy way to illustrate a point that’s sometimes hard to make in just words.”

The video is available for viewing at hotsprings.org/media-room/reports/.

For more information contact Bill Solleder at 501-321-2027.