Reports - Mississippi Renewal

88 | TOURISMwater mark” tour. Private developmenttargeted with appropriated taxincentives should fund this attraction.■ MDOT and the Mississippi CoastTransportation Authority should linkattractions, accommodations, and conventionand meeting facilities by trolley,rail, ferryboat, bike and pedestrianpaths, and other multi-modal options.These alternatives to car travel notonly move people conveniently alongour linear market, but could be attractionsthemselves. Funding sourcesinclude grant programs administeredby the Federal Transit Authority.■ Tourism organizations should leveragethe “mini-brands” of our citycenters. The Renewal Forum illustratedmethods to capitalize on theindividual identities and characters ofCoast cities. Developing and promotingthose separate identities help createreasons for visitors to stay longerand go to more than one destination.Tourism officials and organizationsshould highlight these 11 uniqueidentities in their marketing strategy.■ MDA and “eco-tourism” operatorsshould advance “eco-tourism” opportunities.Existing nature trails onland and waterways are attractive tothis market. The Pascagoula River,Biloxi Bay, Turkey Creek, JourdanRiver, the National Seashore, andother areas along the Mississippi GulfCoast provide excellent opportunitiesfor tourists to explore the naturalbeauty and resources of the Coast.■ Local developers should expand theretail horizons. Shopping is the favoriterecreational activity for manytourists, but they want to visit storesnot available at home. MDA and localgovernments should target major retailerslike Nordstrom’s, Saks, Target,Crate & Barrel, and Pottery Barn—especially those willing to tailor theirstore designs to the style and scale appropriateto the Coast. At the sametime, encourage local artists and otherentrepreneurs to create products thatreflect the culture of South Mississippi.■ Local governments and cultural organizationsshould create more themed“trails.” Possible unique tour pathsinclude a Museum Trail, Golf Trail,Nature Trail, African-American HistoryTrail, a Civil War to Civil RightsHeritage Trail, and Art Trail—eachlinking similar attractions. An Art Trail,