Coastal Mississippi, July 23, 2024—Coastal Mississippi Tourism Commission, the entity charged with promoting regional visitation for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties, is pleased to announce that all Coastal Mississippi Tourism staff have been awarded the esteemed “Professional in Destination Management” (PDM) certificate by Destinations International (DI). a professional organization representing destination organizations and convention and visitor bureaus worldwide.   

“Having 100% staff-wide participation and completion of the Destination Management PDM certification is a huge achievement as it entails a significant commitment of time from each staff member above and beyond their regular duty,” said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. “On behalf of the Commissioners and myself, we are extremely proud of this accomplishment by our team and know that it will allow each of them to bring new insights to the table whenever they represent and promote Coastal Mississippi as a world-class tourism destination.”  

The PDM certification program provides new hires and seasoned professionals with a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of destination marketing, management, and sales as well as the critical skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the travel and tourism industry.  

“The insights gained by completing the PDM course will help us better sell Coastal Mississippi to business and leisure travelers around the world,” added Young. “We are excited to see where this team will take us and are committed to providing them with the tools and training they require so we can continue to showcase our stunning destination, attractions, casinos, resorts, and restaurants to an even wider audience.   

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