In Fiscal 12 months 2022, tourism remained Mississippi’s fourth-largest trade and was a $7.1 billion producer for the state.

In the course of the 2023 Mississippi Legislative session, there have been a number of payments launched by lawmakers to enhance tourism within the Magnolia State.

Some tourism associated payments died in the course of the 2023 Legislative session, together with H.B. 565 which might have designed blue because the state coloration of Mississippi and S.B. 2513 which might have designated the American Quarter Horse because the “Official State Horse of the State of Mississippi.”

Different tourism associated measures are nonetheless alive late on this session. These embrace:

• Home Invoice 419 – Supplies help to vacation spot advertising and marketing organizations. Vacation spot advertising and marketing organizations are outlined as particular native governmental models created by native and personal legal guidelines of the State of Mississippi for the aim of tourism promotion, funded by particular native tax levies, and staffed with professionals engaged in out-of-state tourism advertising and marketing and tourism product improvement for municipalities, counties and/or areas. The invoice is at the moment in convention.
• Senate Invoice 2138 – Designates the Mississippi Opal because the state gemstone. The laws was signed by the Governor on March third.
• Senate Invoice 2137 – Designates every April as “Mississippi Native Plant Month.” The invoice was accepted by the Governor on March sixth.
• Senate Invoice 2139 – Creates the Mississippi USA Semiquincentennial Fee and Mississippi Semiquincentennial Celebration Fund. A signature is due from the Governor on March twenty eighth.
• Senate Invoice 2511 – Brings ahead part 57-123-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, which is the supply of regulation that requires the Division of Finance and Administration to determine a program for the aim of offering funds to help vacation spot advertising and marketing organizations. The invoice is at the moment in convention.
• Home Invoice 704 – Supplies incentives for sure tv sequence manufacturing. The invoice is at the moment in convention.
• Senate Invoice 2359 – The Mississippi Most important Road Revitalization Grant Program Act authorizes the Legislature in addition to the Division of Finance and Administration to make grants accessible to chose Most important Road Designated Neighborhood applications for initiatives resulting in the revitalization of Mississippi’s downtowns. The invoice is at the moment in convention.
• Senate Invoice 2695 – Extends the deadline for the Mississippi Improvement Authority (MDA) to concern certificates approving contributors within the Tourism Challenge Incentive Program. The convention report has been filed.
• Home Invoice 1027 – Designates the blueberry because the state fruit. The invoice was accepted by the Governor on March 14th.

On March 1st, the Mississippi Tourism Affiliation (MTA) hosted its annual Tourism Day on the Capitol. The occasion featured Governor Tate Reeves, Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, and Speaker of the Home Philip Gunn.

Governor Reeves thanked MTA for all the exhausting work they do to share the fantastic thing about Mississippi from guests world wide.

“The multi-billion-dollar influence the tourism trade has on our financial system is important to our state’s success and helps to bolster nice small companies and strengthen vibrant native communities,” Reeves stated. “You want solely to have a look at how Mississippi led the nation in tourism restoration in 2020 to see the dedication that our state has to investing in and rising this trade. I sit up for persevering with to work with you to assist much more vacationers fall in love with Mississippi.” 

Lt. Governor Hosemann stated they’re dedicated to making sure Mississippi’s tourism financial system not solely recovers however continues to thrive.

“We’ve labored intently and deliberately with our tourism leaders across the state to make sure we maintain this $7 billion trade rising as a result of we all know an funding in tourism additionally grows the state’s general financial system,” Hosemann stated. “Having a powerful tourism infrastructure is vital to assembly our future financial improvement objectives.”

Speaker Gunn stated as Mississippi’s fourth-largest trade, tourism is just not solely an necessary financial driver that generates billions of {dollars} for the state, however it’s our calling card to the world.

“The hospitality of our individuals makes Mississippi an unimaginable place to go to and to name dwelling,” Gunn stated. “Mississippi has been a nationwide chief in tourism restoration and that’s the reason the Home of Representatives is dedicated to serving to our tourism locations across the state maintain that restoration momentum going. This very important sector definitely contributes to our income surplus.”

Danielle Morgan, Government Director of the Mississippi Tourism Affiliation, just lately wrote a column saying that tourism is the important thing to Mississippi’s financial future. She defined that in Fiscal 12 months 2022, tourism certainly remained Mississippi’s fourth-largest trade and was a $7.1 billion producer for the state, offering cash-in-hand financial improvement delivered immediately by guests.

“Final yr, tourism additionally supported 104,595 jobs and generated $749 million in state and native taxes. Tourism revenues additionally contributed $461 million or 6.42 % to the $7.18 billion state basic fund, which is roughly $1 of each $16,” Morgan wrote.

The Government Director of the Mississippi Tourism Affiliation stated state lawmakers and public leaders needs to be applauded for recognizing the immense worth tourism holds for Mississippi’s financial well being and investing in its progress and vitality.