Mississippi’s tourism industry had a record-breaking 2023 with 43.7 million visitors, which resulted in a whopping $17.5 billion contribution to the state’s economy.
Governor Tate Reeves announced the release of Visit Mississippi’s annual Tourism Economic Contribution Report on Friday at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Hattiesburg.
The new study, conducted by Tourism Economics, provides an in-depth analysis of tourism’s economic impact in Mississippi for the calendar year 2023.
“These record-breaking numbers highlight just how much momentum Mississippi’s tourism industry has,” Reeves said. “Today’s announcement is another historic win for our state. Mississippi has a lot to offer, so it’s no surprise that people from all over want to visit and spend their hard-earned money here. I’m proud of what Mississippi’s tourism industry is accomplishing.”
According to the Republican governor, key highlights from the 2023 economic impact report include:
- Visitor Volume: Mississippi welcomed 43.7 million domestic and international visitors in 2023.
- Visitor Spending: $11.5 billion in visitor spending generated a total economic impact of $17.5 billion in Mississippi in 2023.
- Job Creation: The total economic impact sustained 133,880 jobs, contributing $4.5 billion in labor income.
- State & Local Taxes: Tourism generated $1.1 billion in total state and local tax revenues in 2023, alleviating the tax burden on Mississippi households.
- Daily Spending: On average, visitors spent approximately $31.6 million per day.
- Key Spending: Top categories included food and beverage, lodging, recreation and retail, and transportation.
The report reveals that approximately $31.6 million was spent daily by visitors in Mississippi. Officials believe this underscores the importance of supporting and promoting the state’s tourism industry.
“Every dollar spent by visitors supports jobs and generates vital tax revenue that benefits local communities,” Director of Visit Mississippi Director Rochelle Hicks said. “Our tourism industry supported approximately 133,880 jobs in 2023, contributing $4.5 billion in wages. Without the impact of tourism, Mississippi households would need to pay an additional $922 in taxes each year.”
The full report can be found here.
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