FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public/Media Relations Manager
228-388-2993
media@coastalmississippi.com
National Travel and Tourism Week: May 6-12, 2018
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST (May 2, 2018) – Join Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast in celebrating the 35th annual National Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12, 2018!
During the first full week in May, communities nationwide unite to showcase the impact of travel to policymakers, business leaders and media with rallies, events and other activities. This year, the industry is coming together to recognize the many contributions of travel and tourism over the last several decades with a "Travel Then and Now” theme, spotlighting the many contributions and achievements of the U.S. travel industry over the decades, while advocating for policies that will allow travel to thrive for years to come.
“This week serves as a great reminder of the importance of the travel and tourism industry to our Coastal communities, and how vital it is to the region and state as a whole,” said Milton Segarra, CEO of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. “Working together is the key to bringing more visitors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and we look forward to a future of increased visitation, deepened partnerships and broadened horizons,” said Segarra.
According to Visit Mississippi’s Tourism Economic Impact Report, the Mississippi Gulf Coast welcomed 6.3 million visitors in 2017 who spent $2.41 billion, which is up $42 million compared to 2016.
Travel has always been an industry of opportunity and is an indispensable source of American jobs, many of which cannot be outsourced. The travel industry is America’s seventh-largest employer, supporting 15.6 million jobs (8.8 million directly in the travel industry and 6.8 million in other industries). In 2017, the number of leisure and hospitality jobs was up to 32,400 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, amounting to 21% of total employment in the tri-county area (source: Visit Mississippi: Tourism Economic Impact Report).
For more information on National Travel & Tourism Week, visit: https://www.ustravel.org/events/national-travel-and-tourism-week
Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast is an organization charged with promoting South Mississippi as a tourism and convention destination worldwide. Its mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure, convention, sports and business visitors to the area. It is dedicated to maximizing the travel and tourism industry for South Mississippi. Visit gulfcoast.org to learn more.
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