Page 86 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2024

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Coastal Mississippi Tourism Update
story by Cherie Ward
photos courtesy of Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, The Sound, Mississippi Aquarium and
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
Vacations and beaches aren’t exactly synonymous, but they should be – especially Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches.
The Coast has been a tourist hotspot for decades, enticing travelers with thoughts of dancing in the salty air to the soft crash of waves, and has recently evolved into an even easier travel destination.
“We’ve seen great progress with the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport,” explained Judy Young, chief executive officer with Coastal Mississippi.
“We are up more than 22 percent in total passengers,” Young said. “The airport
has expanded by adding new flights and quite a few nonstop flights. We’ve also seen an increase in new customers so between traditional passengers and our gaming charters and passengers, we’re doing really well bringing folks in but also enabling our residents to experience a nonstop flight out.”
The tourism fiscal year runs annually from October through September with more than 14 million travelers visiting the Magnolia State each year.
In 2022, more than $7 billion was spent
in communities across the state. The three coastal counties – Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock – bring in about $2.7 billion or 30 percent of the state’s tourism income. The Coast also pulls in more than 45 percent of the state’s short-term rental dollars.
“We import wealth so there are new dollars from outside of the community coming in,” she said. “And we run it
pretty close to 50 percent on repeat visitation. That means that our attractions are investing in their facilities to have something new that keeps people coming back. It means there are lodging properties that are constantly being upgraded which also keeps people coming back and we
are adding new sports facilities and new venues.”
She added performance venues such as The Sound in Gautier and the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center are steadily booking new shows, charter fishing companies are venturing out every day, and restaurants feature mounds of fresh Gulf seafood dishes.
“We have the sand, sun, fish, music, cuisine, and gaming as well as great family places like Margaritaville, Centennial Plaza, Mississippi Aquarium, and Lynn Meadows,” she said. “We really have it all and we’re a diverse, dynamic
destination.”
86 | August 2024
| SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living