Reports - Mississippi Renewal

82 | TOURISMfirst and most important step in reducingthe “FUD Factor” (Fear, Uncertaintyand Doubt) among the investmentcommunity when it authorizedCoast casinos in Harrison and Hancockcounties to move inland, thus reducingthe likelihood of complete destructionto those facilities by future hurricanes.The highest hurdle in their recoveryhas been cleared. The Coast’s hospitalityindustry—before casinos—was basedaround the beach and local history andculture. So as the gaming industry preparesits return, the challenge is to recreatethis special sense of place.After almost two months of research,discussion and debate by the TourismCommittee, the Commission recommendsthe following goal be adopted bylocal governments on Mississippi GulfCoast and appropriate tourism agencies:The Mississippi Coast will becomea Tier One tourist destinationwith a strong sense of place by2010 and generate an appropriatemarketing budget to support thisgoal.The Commission sets forth the followingprinciples to guide tourism’sfuture:■ Maintain a Sense of Place. Much ofthe Commission’s deliberation wasbased on natural, cultural, and historicfactors contributing to a senseof place – the coastal environment,water access, water-dependent activities,local and regional cuisine, musicand art, festivals, and lifestyle. Theseare the greatest resources. Consideringthe recommendations fromthe Mississippi Renewal Forum’sOctober charrette, the Commissionstrongly supports capitalizing onthese resources as they are uniquelyexpressed by the design teams forA top tiertouristdesignationby 2010.To attain Tier One statusas a tourism designationby the end of thisdecade the Coast must:■ Enhance air service,increasing fl ights in andout of the area and developinginternationallinks.■ Increase hotel capacityto at least 30,000 rooms.■ Enlarge conventionand meeting space toat least 600,000 squarefeet.■ Better integrate coreattractions—includingdining, shopping,sports, eco-tourism,special events, fi shing,museums, cultural andhistorical attractions,and major destinationattractions. These attractionsdo not have tobe located in the threecoastal counties butmust be easily accessiblefrom them.■ Boost promotionalspending to at least $20million annually.Source: Richer, Steve (ExecutiveDirector, Mississippi Gulf CoastConvention & Visitors Bureau)interview. 15 November, 2005.each of the 11 coastal cities. Specifically,the architecture and design,transportation and transit planning,housing, the style and diversity ofretail, and creation of tourism “clusters”or districts will help sustain thespecial sense of place. Following theRenewal Forum’s recommendationscan make each of those cities andcommunities a stand-alone attractionand destination, almost demandingthat visitors extend their stays to includeside trips to these downtownsand special districts.■ Share the Katrina Experience. HurricaneKatrina was an experience noone should live through, but SouthMississippians did. Like HurricaneCamille, it will be a part of commonexperience forever. It is somethingthe rest of the world immediatelywill connect with the Coast and itspeople. This identity can be an advantageas people from around theworld will, out of curiosity, want tosee the destruction and witness therebuilding. The suffering and extraordinaryresponse of residents is amajor news story and a major attraction.For the next year or two, “voluntourists”coming to the Coast toaid the recovery will also be a majorsource of tourism. As tourist attractionsreturn and the Coast moves towardthe transformation into a TierOne destination, it should capitalizeon the Katrina experience and theinterest generated in its consequences.A “Hurricane Katrina Tour” couldbe a popular attraction—rememberingits destructive force at specificsites, seeing high-water marks alongthe route, touring a Hurricane Museumof Remembrance, visiting Katrinaexhibits at the J.L. Scott Marine