Craig Ray
Craig Ray
longer maybe money number spending spent staying travelers
Maybe the number of travelers aren't as high, but the money spent is way up. The travelers are staying longer and spending more money. When you look at it in that sense, I'd say it's very positive.
avid great hard hope increases judge knew rising sales travelers trend visit visitors worked
Mississippi has worked hard to entice avid golf-and-gaming travelers to visit our great state, because we knew if we got them here once, they would come back. The sales increases demonstrate the rising trend of visitors to Mississippi and we hope increasingly more visitors will judge our offerings for themselves.
consider course four good immense includes katrina natural regions
Of course we don't consider Katrina anything but an immense natural disaster; however, if there is something good to be said it includes that the Mississippi's other four regions and their unique, high-quality attractions are in the spotlight.
billion business coast gulf large outside percentage reach
reach outside your boundaries. We want to keep a large percentage of the $2 billion in business from the Gulf Coast in this state.
ask economic funds governor specific state tourism
After the first of the year, the governor will ask for specific funds for economic development and tourism to re-market the state of Mississippi.
guess
If you said 'millions,' I'd guess you'd be safe, if you look at the big picture.
again bringing draw gaming history meeting rest state types unique
This will be a unique draw that the state doesn't have. The rest of the state has gaming and different types of history and culture, but again bringing this in, new meeting space, new hotel, this is a new look for other tourists.
anticipate appears beyond business coast continues courses damage four good gulf impact katrina longer misplaced news opened people regions rest since soon state strong structural support surprised vast visitors welcome
We are still assessing the vast impact of Katrina, and there appears to be good news beyond the Coast with no significant structural damage to most of our courses, ... We anticipate that those that have not already opened will do so very soon. The Gulf Coast will take longer to recover, of course, but some of the courses will re-open soon there. Meanwhile, the rest of the state continues to welcome and support visitors and misplaced residents. We've been surprised how strong the golf-and-gaming stay-and-play business has been in the four other regions of the state since Katrina and this is good for the state and its people and businesses.
along america believe billion cannot caring due economy effort few historic huge industry katrina laid local months mountains moved past percent progress six tourism volunteers washed
Tourism is a $6.35 billion industry and a huge part of the local economy along this coast. Katrina not only washed away the culturally historic communities here, it also washed away a big part of our livelihood, but it could not take away our spirit. I cannot believe the substantial progress Tourism - Caring for America volunteers made. With 20 percent of our economy laid off due to Katrina-related issues, we have been working day in and day out over the past six months to get our communities back on track. This kind of concentrated effort makes us feel like we moved mountains in just a few days.