Springing Forward in March

Springing Forward in March by Richard Forester, Executive Director


We have had a taste of spring weather early in February this year. Just makes us long for more of it. We get to spring forward into daylight savings time earlier this year, March 13 in fact and the tourism industry on the coast hopes that all this, along with our traditional fabulous Mardi Gras celebration will be the beginning of a great tourism season. We have weathered many crises, some natural, some man- made and it would be nice to go through a spring and summer season with none of that, thank you very much! The signs so far have been good and reflecting back on 2010 we do find there was good news. We finished the year ahead in hotel/motel occupancy rates and in hotel tax collection totals. So far this year that trend is continuing. The state has recently reported that overall employment in the tourism industry in Mississippi stands at 78,485 direct jobs. That’s 7.2% of the total statewide non-farm establishment based employment. When you add in the indirect and induced jobs the total is over 10% of all non-farm jobs in the state. Tourism is the 5th largest employer in Mississippi with a total payroll over $2.5 billion, with a “b”, dollars. Visitors to the state last year spent $5.5 billion and generated $415.4 million dollars in total tax revenue. Without the tourism industry in Mississippi each of us would have had to pay $371.00 more per year in taxes, to make up for the loss. This is good news and we hope, with a new spring in our step that these trends continue.

Facebook Photo Contest - ARTS & LITERATURE

ARTS & LITERATURE MONTH

Southern literature was born in Mississippi. The state’s literary greats have distinguished themselves the world over with a special talent for capturing the true south and the heart of America in their works. As a creative bedrock, Mississippi has also produced artists in every genre from painting and sculpture to stage and film. This is your opportunity to explore some of it FOR FREE...

Here's your chance to win TWO passes to the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, FOUR tickets to Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, a $100 gift certificate to take an art class of your choice at The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, TWO free buffets at Boomtown Casino, dinner for TWO (up to $100) at BT’s Steakhouse at Boomtown Casino, and a Biloxi Shrimping Trip kid’s t-shirt and plastic cup -

Send us a picture of you the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art or the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, at your favorite author’s childhood home, showing us your favorite movie that was filmed in Mississippi, or with your favorite piece of artwork. Show us you reading your favorite book. If so, SHOW US! Any photos related to arts & literature in Mississippi will be accepted! All pictures much show you (or someone you have permission to use in a photo.)

All you have to do to enter is submit your picture to taryns@gulfcoast.org along with your name. Once I received your photo, I will upload it to the ARTS & LITERATURE album on our Facebook page. Once you receive TEN LIKES, your name will be entered for the giveaway at the end of the month. GOOD LUCK!

By submitting your picture via email, you authorize the Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB to use your photo on their Facebook page for this contest and consent to your name being published as a winner in the CVB’s E-newsletter, on facebook.com/msgulfcoastcvb, and on Twitter at twitter.com/msgulfcoastcvb. Only one entry will be submitted for the drawing, however, you can submit as many photos as you'd like. Further, you hereby covenant and agree to waive, release and hold harmless the Harrison County Tourism Commission d/b/a Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau from and against any and all claims, demands, charges, liabilities and damages, if any, of every type or nature whatsoever, now or in the future, which arise out of, relate to or may be associated with your submission of any photograph in connection with the contest described herein.