When you think of tourism in Columbus and Lowndes County, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the abundance of historic homes and structures that are featured in the annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage, which will be held April 7 through April 19. Tales from the Crypt and Catfish in the Alley also coincide with Pilgrimage.

But Lowndes County and Columbus have more to offer than a trip back in time.

With that in mind, Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau is working with Young Strategies, Inc., of North Carolina to develop a strategic plan for the travel industry in Columbus and Lowndes County.  As part of the process, Visit Columbus is reaching out to community leaders who are, to some degree or  another, a part of the tourism infrastructure in Columbus and Lowndes County through an extensive survey. The survey is broken down into seven categories: attractions, arts/culture/heritage, dining/shopping/entertainment, outdoor recreation, conferences/meetings, events/festivals and sports.

The information provided by the survey will help develop a strategy for maximizing what the city and county have to offer.

Developing a tourism strategy is particularly important at a time when new opportunities are emerging to complement what we already have. It may call attention to tourism-related topics that have not received the attention they should have.

First off, tourism should not have to begin and end at the city limits, and the survey does a good job including county amenities. The county has its share of things that can attract visitors, including its most recent addition, the $12 million BankFirst Yards baseball complex, which opened in 2024.

Lake Lowndes and the Tenn-Tom Waterway are natural draws for anglers and water sports, as the recent Bassmaster Elite Tournament demonstrates. It brought the visitors and national television exposure that any tourism organization covets.

The Roger Short Soccer Complex has hosted both the Governors Cup and Admirals Cup tournaments, state-wide events that brought thousands of visitors to Columbus.

The Trotter Center continues to be an attractive venue for conferences and meetings. Mississippi University for Women and the Columbus Arts Council provide cultural events and entertainment visitors crave.

Next on the horizon is the long-delayed Terry Brown Amphitheater, which will give us a new element of tourism. The Dr. John “Jack” Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park adds another dimension to the tourism inventory.

Local communities have their own celebrations and festivals. Main Street Columbus brings thousands of visitors to its Marketplace Festival.

The effort goes well beyond simply creating a master list of tourist attractions and events. By exploring how each of these events fits into the tourism landscape and developing an intentional strategy for creating synergy and cooperation, tourism will not only look back, but to the present and future, offering a wide range of events that can be marketed to tourists.

We are eager to see how this new tourism strategy takes shape.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.