We’re still on a tourism high in Natchez – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper

By Jennie Guido

Two weeks in the past, we on the Mississippi Tourism Affiliation hosted our annual Governor’s Convention on Tourism in Tunica, Mississippi. The primary motive that made me blissful was as a result of I used to be going to be within the Mississippi Delta within the fall. Secondly, I used to be extraordinarily near Cleveland, which meant I received to see a few of my favourite folks whereas passing by means of (and make a cease at McCarty Pottery).

The distinction between internet hosting the occasion and attending like I’ve finished in years previous is that I received to assist curate the lineup of audio system, take note of the little particulars that make these occasions memorable, and I nonetheless was in a position to spend time with my tourism greatest associates from across the state.

Those that have labored within the hospitality and tourism trade know that it’s a membership you be part of, and it’s so refreshing to spend time with one another and take a while to debrief on the most recent taking place in our areas.

That’s what this week was for us. That and it was an opportunity to get to study a bit extra about some traits throughout the nation with regards to tourism (particularly since we’re popping out of the pandemic).

It’s been a troublesome two and half years for all of us, however tourism was hit laborious with everybody staying house. Everyone knows that our drive markets had been what saved us going at first; and with the way in which that air journey is trending proper now, it nonetheless is our bread and butter for tourism success.

Our keynote speaker, Invoice Geist with DMO Proz, had some attention-grabbing take-aways that I’d prefer to share with our locals. I really feel like there’s a probability for all of us right here on the town to be a tourism skilled and make the very best for our guests within the coming vacation months.

Invoice defined that in tourism there are three varieties of cash: good, impartial, and dangerous. Good cash is that income that comes from a vacationer from out of state. So when Louisiana cash crosses the river, you may have good cash. Impartial cash is Mississippi cash that stays in state. Let’s say you are taking a day journey to Jackson procuring – that’s impartial. Unhealthy cash is once we exit of state or an out-of-stater chooses a non-Mississippi vacation spot.

Most tourism professionals need to assume they solely deal in good cash and are working laborious to cease dangerous cash from taking place. Nonetheless, let’s stay awake on that impartial cash!

Final week, I had the chance to speak to the oldsters at Kiwanis and clarify this similar idea to them. I gave them the problem of touring their very own state. Buy groceries in Vicksburg. Head as much as Oxford to eat your method by means of the Sq.. Keep in Ocean Springs and go to the Secret Coast.

Keep in mind that journey to the Delta I took mid-October? All of my stops to buy and eat alongside the way in which resulted in a number of impartial cash.

How will you create some impartial cash for Mississippi this vacation season?