oklahoma state tourism department

Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) has the following responsibilities pursuant to 74 O.S. § 74-2202:

• Conserve and protect the parkland under the control of the Commission.
• Oversee the operation and maintenance of the state’s lodges and golf courses.
• Promote tourism by publicity and dissemination of information.
• Assist in promotion of events sponsored by municipalities, associations, and organizations commemorating special events of local or historical interest.
• Educate the public on the people, places, events, culture, and history of Oklahoma.
• Function in an advisory capacity to the Governor, State Legislature, state agencies, municipalities, and to private organizations on matters pertaining to tourism and recreation.

Year-over-Year Expenditure Comparison By Fund Type

Fy 2024 q3 ytd expenditures by statewide program.

Oklahoma State Capitol

2300 N Lincoln Blvd

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

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Tourism Day at the Capitol highlights Oklahoma’s tourism potential

OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) - The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department hosted Tourism Day at the Capitol on April 18.

The day had organizations from the tourism industry sharing information about travel and tourism and its economic impact on communities in Oklahoma.

Shelley Zumwalt, the state Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, says even though tourism makes up the third largest industry in the state, Oklahoma still hasn’t reached its full potential as a top-tier travel destination.

She also says the state faces a unique challenge when it comes to unlocking that potential.

“The challenge we have is there’s not a negative connotation with Oklahoma, but there’s no connotation with Oklahoma,” Zumwalt said. “And we have so many assets and so many things that we could be promoting. So really getting that marketing budget behind the ability to not just get people to vacation here.”

Zumwalt also says the economic impact of a growing tourist industry wouldn’t just benefit businesses.

The industries that come with an increase in tourism can provide stable job opportunities and bring economic competition which can help raise wages.

Copyright 2024 KSWO. All rights reserved.

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Oklahoma Tourism Industry Generates Record Breaking $10.1 Billion in Direct Visitor Spending in 2021

Graphic provided by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department

Eclipse brought $42 million to Southern Okla. economy, State Tourism Dept. says

Okla. (KXII) -As many of us are reminiscing on the spectacular eclipse that moved through Texoma.

The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department has calculated the number of visitors from the eclipse and its economic impact on Southern Oklahoma.

“Just words don’t do it justice,” said Chase Horn, Director of Communications for the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department said from just seven Southeastern Oklahoma State Parks alone, they saw more than 122,000 visitors.

“We had three in totality, Beavers Bend, Talimena, and Wister,” Horn shared, “And then we had four that were kind of right at the edge of totality at 98%, Lake Texoma, obviously Lake Murray, Robbers Cave, and McGee Creek.”

One man found the eclipse a perfect time to get down on one knee.

“We actually had someone get engaged during the eclipse in totality, so that was super neat,” Horn exclaimed.

From April 4 through the 9, visitors generated $15 million for the parks.

“Beavers Bend was sold out for months leading up all the campgrounds, the lodge, all the cabins,” Horn shared.

The department estimates visitor activity brought an economic impact of $42 million in the region.

“A thing a lot of people don’t realize is tourism is actually Oklahoma’s third largest industry,” Horn said, “In 2022, the last year we have numbers for, we brought in $11.8 billion in direct visitor spending, that’s billion with a B.”

Whether there’s an eclipse to view or not, “it’s great, cheap, family fun to get the kids off those video games, stop them from watching TV, get outside and let them have fun in nature, and maybe trick them into learning a little bit,” Horn added.

Copyright 2024 KXII. All rights reserved.

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Incentive for developers to capture state sales taxes for new tourism projects that attract out of state visitors to new or expanded tourism sites.

Who is eligible?

Developers and qualifying entities operating a tourism attraction project. For projects that meet requirements, the eligible companies may receive sales tax credits or a sales tax incentive payment annually for up to 10 years up to the amount that is revenue-neutral to the state or 25% of the approved development costs, whichever is lower.

• The developer (owner) of the tourism attraction asset must complete an application and submit it to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) along with a business plan, marketing plan and development costs of the project.
• Commerce reviews the application materials and may grant a preliminary approval to the project at which time the developer must pay for a consultant report.
• After the consultant report is provided, Commerce determines the project’s revenue neutrality and maximum incentive.
• If approved, state sales taxes associated with the tourism attraction asset may be captured over a 10-year period.
• The recipient gets a payment every year for up to 10 years based on actual performance, not projections (Commerce works with the Oklahoma Tax Commission on the administration of the sales tax credit).
• To qualify, 25% of the visitors attracted must be from out of state.
• A maximum of $30 million can be credited back annually for all qualifying projects.

Benefits:  

If the eligible company is approved, it would receive inducements of up to 25% of development costs or the revenue-neutral incentive as determined by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, whichever is lower. It is a performance-based incentive from captured state sales taxes associated with the development over the approved time period, which is up to 10 years. 

Commerce may negotiate with applicant to include promotion and state benefit.

Examples of Projects Facilitated by the Tourism Development Act:  

Fordson Hotel, Tulsa Club, First National Building, The OAK – an entertainment district being developed in Oklahoma City

How to apply

The eligible company, which may be a developer, of the tourism attraction asset must complete an application and submit it to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce along with:  

• a business plan that also includes the average number of days it is open to the public;
• marketing plan that includes plans for the targeting of out-of-state visitors;  
• a description of the project including maps of the location;  
• anticipated development costs of the project;   
• anticipated employment and wages to be paid at the project; and  
• anticipated revenues and expenses generated at the project.  

Call us today at 800-588-5959 and we’ll get started on a cost/benefit analysis for your business. After your preliminary assessment, we can assist you with the application process.

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The materials contained on this website have been prepared by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal or tax advice. This information is subject to change based on judicial interpretation and legislative action. The application of the information is subject to your unique facts and circumstances. YOU SHOULD NOT ACT UPON ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THESE MATERIALS WITHOUT SEEKING YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL LEGAL AND TAX ADVICE.  

Your Incentive Team

For assistance, contact the Regional Development Specialist (RDS) who serves your region.

Jared Cooper

Steven Bratcher

Glenn Glass

Stan Ralstin

Charlotte Howe

Martin Roberts

Jon Chiappe

Aldwyn Sappleton

Oklahoma Department of Commerce 900 N. Stiles Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Phone: 405-815-6552 Toll-Free: 800-879-6552 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central

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Total solar eclipse brings tourism boom to Oklahoma, generating millions in revenue

T he Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) announced it is celebrating a safe and successful total solar eclipse after southeast Oklahoma reportedly hosted thousands and generated millions in economic activity. 

“Oklahoma was the best place in the country to watch the 2024 total solar eclipse,” said Shelley Zumwalt, Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. “Visitors from over 40 states and multiple countries chose to experience the eclipse in one of our State Parks and generated an estimated $15 million. Events like the eclipse underscore the region’s capacity to attract and sustain substantial visitation, particularly as travel and tourism for experiences is on the rise. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum to bring even more visitors to Oklahoma.”

OTRD reported that in total, visitor activity in the region generated an estimated economic impact of $7 million per day, for a total of $42 million from Thursday, April 4, through Tuesday, April 9. 

In that same time frame, Oklahoma State Parks reportedly welcomed 122,674 visitors across seven parks in full or partial totality, generating more than $15 million, or over one-third of the estimated economic impact in the region. 

For more information about travel and tourism in Oklahoma, visit here. 

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Route 66 travelers facing one-year detour in Oklahoma

Route 66 travelers will encounter detours this summer with reconstruction set to start on the Turner Turnpike bridge over the iconic highway in Wellston. 

Work is set to start later this month on the $48 million project, which will replace a 71-year-old bridge with a new, six-lane-wide crossing. Turner Turnpike travelers, meanwhile, will be diverted to temporary ground level lanes once the current bridge is removed. 

Local motorists needing to access State Highway 66 between US-177 and SH-102 will have a signed detour while those exiting I-44/Turner Turnpike will detour to US-177 to US-62 to SH-102 to SH-66.  

The widening is part of the $5 billion, 15-year ACCESS Oklahoma expansion of the state’s toll road network, which includes widening of the Turner Turnpike to six lanes between Oklahoma City and Bristow.  

The bridge project is expected to be completed by summer 2025 and will include Route 66 bridge medallions and other artwork planned to celebrate the highway’s 2026 centennial. 

"This is an exciting day for the entire state of Oklahoma," Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said. "We're off the most famous road in the entire world and it is such an economic driver for the state of Oklahoma. Over half of all sales tax collected in Oklahoma is off the Route 66 road.” 

More: Oklahoma promised to make toll roads free. After 75 years, here's where that promise stands.

Oklahoma's Turner Turnpike switching to PlatePay on May 1

Turner Turnpike travelers also will see the removal of toll booths with the highway switching to PlatePay on May 1. The turnpike authority previously set PlatePay tolls for passenger vehicles traveling from Oklahoma City to Tulsa on the Turner Turnpike to go up from $5 to $8.75. With PlatePay, cameras record drivers without Pike Passes and mail billings to vehicle owners. 

PlatePay is being introduced to toll roads statewide as the turnpike authority prepares to add more access points. 

"Part of cashless tolling has been a door opener for us to be able to put interchanges where they best facilitate the communities that we serve here in the state like Wellston, Davenport, Depew, Chandler, Stroud and I can go on," said Joe Echelle, director of the turnpike authority. "We're adding dozens of interchanges across the state as part of ACCESS Oklahoma." 

The Turner Turnpike through Wellston draws average daily traffic of more than 31,000 vehicles, a figure transportation officials predict will hit more than 55,000 by 2053. 

Tim Gatz, director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said the bridge work coincides with his agency spending more than $100 million improving Route 66 between Edmond and Wellston. The agency is contributing $7.5 million toward the $48 million bridge project. 

"The one thing I can ensure you of that at this handshake location between the tax-supported state highway location and the turnpike network, on this particular location on Route 66 we will make you proud of what it becomes," Gatz said. "We're going to do that for the community and we're committed with a quality group of individuals and companies who are going to bring this to fruition."