Mississippi: Local tourism is booming, but a behind-the-scenes crisis divides Coast leaders

Mississippi: Local tourism is booming, but a behind-the-scenes crisis divides Coast leaders

Article brief provided by Biloxi Sun Herald
  • Mary Perez, Biloxi Sun Herald
July 6, 2022 6:40 PM
  • Mary Perez, Biloxi Sun Herald

Biloxi was the place to be for the Fourth of July holiday.

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Tourists filled casinos, spent nights in hotel rooms, ate at local restaurants and visited attractions across the Coast over long weekend. Some hotels were full, exceeding expectation, said Linda Hornsby, executive director of the Mississippi Hospitality & Lodging Association.

And it’s not just a holiday bringing more people to South Mississippi. Casinos are driving more traffic this summer and people are coming to the Coast to visit family-focused resorts like Margaritaville Biloxi and Centennial Plaza in Gulfport, she said. Concerts at Mississippi Coast Coliseum are breaking records, said executive director Matt McDonnell, with six shows grossing over $1 million this year. And the summer travel season is just heating up.