Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2019

COASTNOTES
Tourism Unveils New Brand
Coastal Mississippi – The Secret Coast
Local tourism officials unveiled
a new brand and advertising campaign before a large crowd in Gulfport’s Jones Park recently. Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast was presented by the tourism marketing organization for the tri-county Coastal region, formerly known as Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Coastal Mississippi CEO Milton Segarra noted that the area is a well- kept secret and that the new campaign is designed to truly reflect the region, its communities and its array of outstanding assets. “Capitalizing
on today’s top trends to inspire visitors to visit largely undiscovered destinations, the new brand is a product of a year-long rebranding process that will lay the foundation for the future success of the tourism industry in Coastal Mississippi,” he said.
Richard Chenoweth, chairman of the Coastal Mississippi Board of Commissioners, said, “This past year,
our organization has been working with elected officials, stakeholders, multiple agencies, and industry professionals to evaluate our brand, with the overall goal of significantly increasing visitation and impacting the region’s economic development.”
With 55 percent of frequent travelers saying they primarily travel to discover new experiences, cultures, lifestyles, food, and places, Coastal Mississippi is perfectly poised to surprise and delight.
“Coastal Mississippi speaks to
who we are and what we offer as a region. The Coast is the place where water meets the land, but ‘coastal’ encompasses the beaches, the water, and the land beyond,” Seagarra said. “This is an important distinction to make, as the experience offered here goes well beyond where the water meets the shore: our beautiful coastal communities with rich, authentic culture, attractions, activities and diverse natural resources offer a
phenomenal amount to do, see and experience like no other destination.”
Coastal Mississippi thanks its sponsors for their support: The City of Gulfport; Beau Rivage Resort & Casino; Coca-Cola; Community Bank; Cruisin’ the Coast; Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport; Half Shell Oyster House; Harrah’s Gulf Coast Hotel & Casino; IP Casino Resort Spa; Island View Casino; Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association; Mississippi Power; Port of Gulfport; Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort; Silver Slipper Casino; The Rack House Steak & Spirits; The Sun Herald; Visit Mississippi; and WLOX.
228.896.6699 www.coastalmississippi.com
story by Lynn Lofton photo by Donn Hupp
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2019
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