About Mississippi
Tourism Association
Overview
Tourism is the 4th largest industry in Mississippi, employing almost 105,000 people. However, 17,000 direct and indirect jobs have been lost since the pandemic. Mississippi Tourism Association is working on strategies to train and recruit quality tourism professionals to keep up with the demand in this sector.
In fiscal year 2023, visitors to Mississippi generated more than $7.5 BILLION, a 10% increase. These expenditures contributed $744 MILLION in state and local taxes. Mississippi has outpaced the Southeast and much of the nation and was 11th in the country in YoY spending growth in 2023.
Tourism is a consistent multi-billion-dollar producer for Mississippi and our continued investment will help grow our economy and improve the quality of life of our communities throughout the state for both visitors and residents.
Our association was created to be the voice of tourism for industry partners around the state. We work together with our members to strengthen and grow the state’s tourism sectors to ensure all visitors to Mississippi have a positive experience with everyone they encounter within Mississippi’s travel and tourism industry and that our residents and leaders know that tourism is an essential component to our state’s future vitality.
MTA also provides quality educational, professional development and training opportunities as well as networking tools for our members and partners. Through collaborative and grassroots advocacy efforts, we strive to strengthen the tourism industry and achieve our vision of transforming Mississippi’s economy through increased visitor spending and overall travel industry growth.
Danielle Morgan, Executive Director
Mississippi Tourism Association
History
The task force began their work in March 1986 and issued their “Tourism Development Report” in May 1986. The major objective of the report was the establishment of a statewide public/private sector promotional organization…THE MISSISSIPPI TRAVEL PROMOTION ASSOCIATION (MTPA).
On May 12, 1986, MTPA began operations with the primary objective of creating an industry-wide promotional force with a focus centering on private sector marketing to the traveling public. That mission, although somewhat broadened in recent years, remains basically the same.
The MTPA mission statement stated, “MTPA, the voice of the Tourism and Hospitality industry, is to promote and advocate tourism, is to educate the public and is to provide services to its members which will result in increased economic vitality and a positive image for the State of Mississippi.
In our second decade of service to Mississippi, our major goal continues to be increased participation from every segment of the industry. These include hotels, restaurants, attractions, casinos, chambers of commerce, convention & visitor bureaus, all travel related businesses, and to remain a strong partner with the State of Mississippi’s tourism development efforts.
Today a Board of Directors, representing all parts of the State and all segments within the hospitality industry, guides the member based organization. Past Presidents of the Association have been a varied mix of professionals who have all left their mark on MTA.
For more than three decades MTA has represented Mississippi’s tourism industry well, and is poised to make even greater progress in the years ahead as we continue working towards achieving our vision to transform Mississippi’s economy through increased visitor spending and overall travel industry growth.
Board of Directors
Dr. Rickey Thigpen
Laura Beth Strickland
Kurt Allen
Paige Hunt
