Tourism will be affected
The loss of funding through the 2 percent restaurant tax is going to be devastating and far-reaching. The tax had grown from $1.3 million in 2011 to $1.93 million in 2017. But, it is not just the loss of approximately $2 million. According to Mississippi Development Authority, visitors to Columbus/Lowndes County spent approximately $116 million in 2016. This $2 million has provided jobs; part-time, full time and seasonal. The money has allowed Visit Columbus (CVB) to partner with many organizations to apply for grants and provide match money for those grants. We have received approximately $150,000 in grants the last few years. New businesses have opened because of the activity and marketing climate created by Visit Columbus. We received a grant last week to create a Columbus-centered training video where restaurant and hotel front line employees will use a platform training program to learn first-class service training.
Most of you know the many things our office does on a daily basis, but are you aware of our strong partnership with CAFB where we will provide $25,000 this month as presenting sponsor for “Wings Over Columbus” where an estimated 50,000 people will visit Columbus over the April 21st week-end. We are a major sponsor of all sporting events at The W and at Mississippi State University and we have reaped great benefits from that investment.
During the next few weeks in April we will host 18 events. Our 78th Annual Spring Pilgrimage which brings guests from all over the world will be held April 5-14. The Half-Marathon, Catfish in the Alley, and the Art’N Antiques Show will be challenged financially in 2019.
We have provided $10,000 to the USTA Mississippi State Senior Tennis Tournament as well as providing funding for the Admiral’s Cup Soccer Tournament April 27-29 where approximately 8,000 guests will visit Columbus.
We have been providing $210,000 to the Golden Triangle Development LINK and that funding will be cut entirely. We were scheduled to increase that funding to $250,000 this year.
In the coming year we were scheduled to host: The International Order of the Eastern Star, A Literary Group from Australia, and the largest tourism summit held in the State of Mississippi, the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. All of these conferences, plus many other meetings and conferences are now subject to change due to the unfortunate circumstances which have been created.
What a sad day indeed when others will not have the opportunity to experience the hospitality and warmth shown by a tourism bureau which is fully funded.
Nancy Carpenter
CEO, Visit Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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