A local tourism official says one of Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' most recent executive orders, which established the Natural State Initiative aimed at capitalizing on the growth of the state's outdoor economy, can only have a positive effect locally.
The proclamation states that Arkansas' outdoor economy grew by almost 23% in the last year.
"It can only have nothing but a positive effect on Hot Springs and Garland County," Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said Wednesday.
Arrison said he is excited about the governor focusing on outdoor tourism so early into her administration and the fact that her husband will be directly involved in the efforts.
First gentleman Bryan Sanders is set to serve as chairman for the initiative's Advisory Council on a volunteer basis.
Bryan Sanders met his wife while working on her father's, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, presidential campaign in Iowa in 2007. Since then, the couple has moved to Little Rock, where they have raised three children, Scarlett, Huck and George. The family also has a golden retriever named Traveler.
Prior to Huckabee's presidential run, Bryan Sanders had made a name for himself as a strategist for Republican candidates across the country.
He enjoys mountain biking and spending time outdoors with his family, making him a natural fit for the Natural State Initiative.
According to the initiative, the Advisory Council will work with the Arkansas Department of Commerce to "promote both Arkansas' growing outdoor recreation industry and the economic impact of outdoor infrastructure investment; to recruit new outdoor recreation businesses to Arkansas, to expand existing outdoor recreation businesses, and to foster entrepreneurial growth by using economic development incentives, site selection services, funding, and training resources within the Arkansas Economic Development Commission; and to explore the development of outdoor recreation opportunity zones near state parks."
The advisory council will also coordinate with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to maintain the trail systems at state parks and connect them to regional trail systems, develop a marketing strategy to promote tourism and outdoor recreation in the state and build the outdoor recreation workforce among other things.
Located in the Diamond Lakes region, Hot Springs stands to gain from this initiative and could see some of the most significant increase in outdoor tourism in the state.
According to Arrison, Sanders and her family have spent plenty of time enjoying nature in Garland County, hiking the Northwoods Trails as well as fishing and other activities.
"She's not only very familiar with what Arkansas has to offer," said Arrison. "But, she's very familiar with what Hot Springs has to offer."