Newly elected Downtown Association of Hot Springs President Alan Spraggins says the organization is entering the new year trying to "plan accordingly" with the best interest of local businesses and tourists in mind as the pandemic persists.
As of now, plans are still being made for the association's major annual fundraiser, the Tom Daniel Holiday Chili Cookoff, which was canceled last year due to the pandemic.
"With the first of the year, a lot of events are already canceled due to COVID," Spraggins said. "We're hopefully wishing that a lot of events in the fall will go on as scheduled. This year, with the 100th anniversary of the national park, they've got a lot of events going on, so we play into a lot of their stuff, as well. Our big signature event, which will be the Chili Cookoff in November, we're planning right now that it will hopefully continue to go on as it has in the past."
He noted it is a challenge to make long-term plans with the fluidity the pandemic brings.
"What we may want to do right now could totally change in two months," Spraggins said.
From downtown business owners he said he has spoken with, tourism has been good in the area since the fall, which moves them into the new year with "high hopes."
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"What we noticed last year, and already rolling into this year, is we're seeing a lot more out of state short-term traffic, it seems like," Spraggins said.
"Last week we were hiking up on the mountains and (saw) four or five different states (license plates) -- and this is the second week of January -- so what we're seeing, it seems like, is more regional travel. So where your cruise lines or big destination resorts are closed, people are traveling here for the weekend."
When the pandemic initially hit last spring, a "Love Local" campaign was launched by the association to encourage local visitors to come to the area. He said they may do a similar campaign this year to increase local foot traffic in the area again.
"I would say that a lot of the business owners were very resilient," Spraggins said. "We did the 'Love Local' campaign back early in 2020 and had a great response. Most businesses never shut down downtown. Obviously, they adjusted their protocols -- mask mandates and things like that -- but I think they were really good."
The overall support downtown businesses received from city and county leaders over the past year, Spraggins said, is what has poised the area to have a "great" 2021.
"We just want to continue to push Hot Springs," he said. "I think it's the best big small town in the world, so I'm excited to be here."