Organization: Tourism, Recreation, Quality of Life Goal Team

Goal Team Co-Chairs: Katie Harrington & Paula Oliver

Mission Statement: Make Phillips County an attractive community and major tourism destination in the Delta and provide recreational and cultural activities for citizens by developing local recreational activities and programs, and by building on the region’s existing tourism industry and the County’s historic and cultural attractions and its natural environment, and create and implement a long-range plan for developing and marketing existing and additional attractions.

The distinctive, historic and physical characteristics of a community are key factors in its ability to:
• Attract tourists and visitors.
• Attract business and industry.
• Serve as a desirable location for retirees and others who are relocating.

Developing a viable tourism industry in Phillips County is an important first step in community redevelopment by improving overall appearance and vibrancy of the area - to enable attraction of commercial businesses and related employment opportunities.  Improved physical image will positively impact business opportunities as company representatives considering relocating a business will view Helena-West Helena in a more favorable light. Additionally, tourism does not require development of the education system, improvement of housing stock or state of the art health care.  Proper development of a tourism plan, however, will provide a springboard, timeline and revenue source from which education, housing and health care can be addressed.

A significant strength available to Phillips County is its close proximity to Memphis, Tennessee and Tunica, Mississippi.  The Memphis metropolitan market and international airport is only one hour north of Helena. Tunica, Mississippi, 30 minutes north of Helena-West Helena, is a rapidly growing tourist destination with the presence of nine casinos (MGM, Ballys, Fitzgeralds, etc.). Approximately, 12 million tourists a year visit Tunica.  Additionally, the Isle of Capri Casino operates immediately across the Mississippi River in Lula, Mississippi.

In order to attract tourists from the Memphis and Tunica areas, the City of Helena-West Helena has adopted a strategy that capitalizes on the historic nature of Helena, its cultural heritage, civil war battles, blues music and the Mississippi River to develop itself as a meaningful secondary tourist destination to the current tourist demand available in Memphis, Tunica and at the Isle of Capri Casino. The infrastructure currently present in Helena, however, is insufficient to provide tourists with a positive impression and must be developed.  The Strategic Community Plan provides a blueprint for such development.

Following is the list of strategic goals related to tourism, recreation, and quality of life identified by Phillips County residents. For a complete list of action steps associated with these goals, download the Phillips County Strategic Community Plan.

Strategic Goal Number One - Convert travel corridor from the Mississippi River Bridge to downtown historic Helena into a historic park/greenspace with civil war cannons, historic markers and hiking trails. 

Strategic Goal Number Two – Redevelop downtown Helena - specifically Cherry and Walnut Streets to focus on their historical context and create a positive experience for tourists.
Strategic Goal Number Three – Expand development efforts around the Mississippi River to take advantage of this tremendous natural resource.  Development efforts will be focused on creation of specific attractions of interest to tourists.  Such attractions will be key in drawing people to Historic Helena.

Strategic Goal Number Four - Create six major tourist events that occur on an annual basis that promote business volume and traffic flow to Phillips County.  Currently, the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the Wild Hog Rally bring in approximately 150,000 visitors annually.  Four additional events of equal magnitude would increase visitor volume to almost a half million visitors per year.

Strategic Goal Number Five – Expand emphasis on arts and entertainment to improve community involvement in such venues.

Strategic Goal Number Six – Develop county-wide tourism through creation and promotion of available scenic and recreational activities. 

Strategic Goal Number Seven – Partner with other Delta communities to create a tri-state blues music trail. Potential communities for partnership are Memphis, Clarksdale, Greenville and Indianola.

Strategic Goal Number Eight – Create a Delta Image Campaign and joint marketing program with the State of Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Heritage and other interested Delta communities to provide shared marketing materials for the region.