MS coast tourism booms with hospitality, nice meals, relaxed way of life

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‘Our lifestyle is a bit of cheaper. Our life is much less accelerated. I believe individuals like coming to a spot the place they will come for a number of days and really feel comfortable.’

• Mississippi’s coast is experiencing a tourism growth, attracting a file variety of guests and boosting the native economic system.
• Increased tourism has led to expanded journey choices, together with new flights and Amtrak providers.
• Visitors are drawn to the coast’s relaxed ambiance, inexpensive value of residing, various sights, and increasing culinary scene.
• Southern hospitality and a variety of actions, from casinos and seashores to historic websites and buying, contribute to the coast’s attraction.

The Mississippi coast has lengthy been a vacation spot for many individuals, and at one time, well-known names resembling Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Judy Garland had been related to it. Although these names are now not within the highlight, Mississippi’s coast nonetheless is. It is drawing extra vacationers than ever as a consequence of Southern hospitality and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many destinations did not open fully until the last half of 2022,” stated Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi, a company that promotes South Mississippi as a tourism and conference vacation spot. “We had the opportunity to capture a larger market share and introduce coastal Mississippi to a whole new generation of visitors. We became a destination of choice at that time.”

In 2023 Mississippi loved a record 43.7 million visitors with an economic impact of $17.5 billion and roughly a 3rd of that was on the coast. Although statewide tourism numbers for 2024 haven’t been launched but, Young stated it was one other banner yr on the coast.

“Last year we welcomed 15.7 million visitors,” Young stated. “They spent $2.2 billion.

“We regained and bumped up the numbers of individuals employed within the business to over 27,000 jobs. It was a rise of two,200 jobs only for 2024.”

And, that’s indicative of the strides the Mississippi Gulf Coast has made prior to now twenty years rebuilding and recovering after Hurricane Katrina devasted the realm on Aug. 29, 2005.

More travel options to, from and along the Mississippi coast

With more visitors coming to Mississippi’s coast comes more travel options. At Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, flights have been added to make travel to and from more convenient.

“We’ve actually added a number of, particularly with Breeze Airways coming in,” said Chaille Munn, director of marketing at the airport. “They got here within the final two years they usually’ve added Tampa and Las Vegas and after that, they most just lately added Orlando.”

Munn said the flights to Las Vegas are considered largely outbound with most passengers being area residents flying to Las Vegas and back. Munn said the Orlando and Tampa flights are evenly split between inbound and outbound travelers.

Munn said a seasonal flight that starts in the fall on Sun Country Airlines that flies to St. Paul, Minnesota, has also been added in recent years.

“That one closely leans towards an inbound flight,” Munn said.

AmTrak is also expanding service in the area with its Mardi Gras Service that will run twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile with several stops in Mississippi. For people visiting the Mississippi coast, it offers another mode of travel and according to Coastal Mississippi, it may further increase tourism.

“It’s one other alternative to succeed in out to a market that is conversant in rail journey,” Young said. “It works effectively in that market.”

What keeps visitors coming back to Mississippi’s coast?

Bill Hancock is a fishing guide and owns Reel Outlaw Charters based in Gulfport. He said he’s seen a change in his clientele in recent years and it’s not just Mississippi’s excellent fishing that’s putting people on his boat.

“I’m gaining prospects from out of state,” Hancock said. “Loads of them.

“A lot of people from up north are finding out about Mississippi. People found that Mississippi has a lot to offer. Our way of life is a little cheaper. Our life is less accelerated. I think people like coming to a place where they can come for a few days and feel at ease.”

Not solely can guests really feel comfortable as they get pleasure from a laid-back way of life, there’s so much to do. Casinos and white sand seashores are the apparent attracts, however the coast gives extra. Shopping alone may make a visit to the coast value it for some the place they will discover reductions on designer items and others at Gulfport Premium Outlets. Shoppers also can select from boutiques and different small retailers present in nearly all the cities.

Other sights embody Ocean Adventures Marine Park and the Mississippi Aqaurium, each situated in Gulfport. In Biloxi, guests can see and be taught concerning the space’s historical past on the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. There’s additionally the choice of taking a ship trip to Ship Island to benefit from the seashores and tour the Civil War-era Fort Massachusetts.

“It’s that variety fashioned with Southern hospitality coupled with reasonable prices and not being so crowded,” Hancock stated. “That’s not the case when you go to Perdido or Destin (Florida). I think we have a good thing going on here.”

Mississippi Coast is a eating vacation spot

For most individuals, eating is an enormous a part of a trip and on the coast, there is no scarcity of eating places or varieties of delicacies to select from. Mary Mahoney’s in Biloxi has been serving up coastal seafood dishes for many years and has grow to be a landmark for eating. If you are craving barbecue, The Shed Barbecue and Blues Joint in Ocean Springs has you lined and The Food Network rated it as among the finest within the nation.

“Our variety is so wide here,” Hancock stated. “Memphis is basically barbecue. Here, we have that, but we have a lot of other stuff.”

And the choices hold coming.

“About every six weeks to two months there’s a new restaurant opening,” Hancock stated.

One of the newer additions to the eating scene is Catch 110 in Biloxi. It opened in November 2024 and gives elk tenderloin, lobster, Alaskan king crab and every part in between.

And it did not take lengthy for guests to search out it.

“We’ve seen quite an influx, especially when there’s conventions at the casinos,” stated common supervisor Anna McCoy. “So far, all these summer season months, there’s been a excessive inflow of vacationer prospects.

“We’re nonetheless form of new, however with our location, it is a great place to have. We’re in a main location close to the casinos.”

So, given the food, the fun, the people and the hospitality, it’s not a surprise that what was called The Secret Coast at one time isn’t really a secret any longer.

“We’re rolling,” Young said. “We’ve acquired a terrific product and nice individuals.”

Do you’ve a narrative thought? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.