BILOXI, Mississippi (May 21, 2024) – Established in 1983, National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual tradition to celebrate the U.S. travel community and tourism's essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, inspiring new businesses, and elevating the quality of life for Americans every day. Fittingly, this year's NTTW theme is “Travel. Powering the Economy.” 

“National Travel and Tourism Week is a great opportunity to demonstrate how essential tourism is in making Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties wonderful places to visit and to live,” says Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. “Nearly 25 million domestic and international travelers spend more than $7 billion dollars each year, making tourism the fourth largest industry in Mississippi. Of that, over $2.7 Billion, a full third of the State's annual revenue, is generated in Coastal Mississippi by annual visitor spend.”  

 “Travel truly is good for the soul and the livelihood of our 12 coastal communities, creating nearly 28,000 tourism jobs each year for Coastal Mississippi residents,” added Young. “We have an exceptional and diverse destination to offer travelers. National Travel and Tourism Week allows us to showcase those offerings while thanking the local partners and front-line workers who make that visitor experience possible.”  

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About Coastal Mississippi: Coastal Mississippi is the 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 CoastalMississippi.com to learn more.