Page 162 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2020

FINAL SAY
MARY
CRACCHIOLO SPAIN
Public Relations Director, MGM Resorts President, Coastal Mississippi
Summers of my youth were spent in Coastal Mississippi visiting friends and family. We’d load up the car in Peachtree City, Georgia and head south for the 4th of July holiday. Vacations would be spent playing in Uncle Dick and Aunt Phyllis’ crushed oyster shell driveway, going souvenir shopping at the SS Hurricane Camille Gift Shop and attending the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. I have fond childhood memories of making my way down the viewing line in the Mississippi heat to marvel at the large ice-packed bins full of fish and standing at the dock to watch whether the fresh catch brought in tipped the scales to break state records.
The coastal atmosphere and friendliness of the people had an enduring impact on me and my family, and we made Gulfport home in the late ‘80s. Soon after, I started working in the tourism industry, which today accounts for one-third of all visitors to our state. In addition to casino gambling, visiting friends and family still ranks among the top reasons to visit. We also know that perceptions of Coastal Mississippi are significantly affected by visitation. Once they arrive, visitors are endeared with the people and the place and their opinion of the destination soars. It is truly a best kept secret shared by those who experience it firsthand.
The Coast is an undiscovered destination, offering an affordable and unique blend of adventure, relaxation and variety that travelers want. Sunsets and seafood, fishing and sailing, gambling, golf, entertainment, events and a full range of family attractions sets our destination apart. In 2018, 13.5 million visitors spent $2.2 billion in our three coastal counties, and more than 29,000 work in the industry, making tourism the second largest private sector employer on the Coast.
This year has been an unprecedented time in tourism. With the current fear of travel and concerns for health and safety, Coastal Mississippi’s focus has been to encourage visitation while keeping travelers’ wellness
top of mind. Visitors are traveling closer to home and want to know that hospitality partners have implemented necessary precautions to protect them and their families. Throughout the next three issues of South Mississippi Living
and in all tourism communications, you’ll see the Coastal Mississippi Promise and how the industry is keeping our destination healthy by following necessary safety protocols.
For residents, there is tremendous sense of place and pride in our destination. In these uncertain times, it is important for the community to understand the vital
role tourism has on our economy and quality of life,
what we have to offer visitors and what is being done to assure health and safety. Soon Coastal Mississippi will be launching an online hospitality training and certification program to provide tools and the information necessary to recover and grow our tourism economy. We also intend to deploy new technologies such as a virtual meeting planning guide and a touchless attractions pass to offer safe interactions while improving the guest experience.
As someone who first came to Mississippi as a tourist and has worked in the tourism industry for decades, I’m pleased to serve as president of the Coastal Mississippi Board of Commissioners. It is time for restarting our industry and we’re optimistic. We are no stranger to adversity and resiliency, and together we’ll rebuild tourism.
That oyster shell driveway and gift shop may be gone, but those travel memories live on forever. Tourism
will endure because people have an innate interest in interacting with one another, discovering new experiences and returning to places they know and love. Word of Coastal Mississippi’s distinct treasures continues to spread and that’s a secret worth sharing.
162 | October 2020
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