Tourism and its impact on Mississippi’s economy was the focus Wednesday when Gov. Phil Bryant and tourism professionals from across the state gathered at the state Capitol.
The Mississippi Tourism Association coordinated the event that drew tourism partners from convention and visitors bureaus — including Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Nancy Carpenter and Board member Rissa Lawrence — chambers of commerce and other entities around the state.
“Last year was the Year of the Creative Economy in Mississippi and 22 million people visited our state to celebrate with us. During their stay, tourists spent $6.2 billion, which had a tremendous impact on the state’s economy,” Gov. Bryant said, in a release from the Mississippi Tourism Association. “The potential to grow our tourism industry is highly dependent on our commitment to its success, which is why I’m asking the Mississippi Legislature to invest an additional $5.1 million for tourism advertising and promotion.”
To remain competitive in today’s market, the state needs additional dollars to reach more people and share with them the “great experiences awaiting them in our state,” said Visit Mississippi director Malcolm White. “We cannot continue to whisper ‘Visit Mississippi’ while our surrounding states are shouting the message to visit theirs.”
Travel and tourism are among Mississippi’s largest export industries and a solid investment for the state, White emphasized.
“For every $1 spent on advertising and marketing, Mississippi receives $6.46 in return. As the state’s fourth-largest private sector employer, the travel and tourism industry generates $2.7 billion in payroll income from 113,500 direct and indirect jobs,” he cited.
Outspent
Carpenter said Thursday, “Mississippi is getting lost in the crowd when we compete with other states because we’re being outspent by a wide margin.”
Figures from the U.S. Travel Association and Mississippi Tourism Association reveal the provisional fiscal year 2013-14 budgets for tourism promotion by surrounding states include Alabama at $22 million, Arkansas at $15 million, Tennessee at $13 million and Louisiana at $11 million. Mississippi’s budgeted figure was $3 million.
“The Governor has added his voice and support for increased funding, and I’m hopeful that the Legislature will also support telling the Mississippi story in their budget recommendation,” White remarked.
Country music’s Marty Stuart, a native of Philadelphia, added his voice Wednesday to those stressing the power of tourism in the Magnolia State.
“He is such a champion for tourism and for the music trails in the state of Mississippi,” said Carpenter, who had the opportunity to visit with Stuart in Jackson. “He is so giving of his time and so appreciative of what’s being done in the state. He said he’d never brought a person to Mississippi for a visit who did not either want to stay or return.”
The state is also “very fortunate to have so many supportive senators and representatives from this area who realize the importance of tourism, not just for the Golden Triangle area but for the whole state,” Carpenter said.
For more information about the Tourism Association, go to mstourism.com. For details about attractions, events and more in Mississippi, go to the state’s official tourism website, VisitMississippi.org, or call 1-866-SEE MISS (733-6477).
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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