Tourism and Customer Service

A prepared community is the foundation of a successful tourism program. As a community or region takes inventory of existing or potential attractions, such as festivals and events, natural resources, historical attractions, and recreation opportunities, local leaders should be mindful that tourism is a highly competitive business. Successful local tourism efforts build on existing strengths.

The success of any business or community as a tourist destination also depends on the attitudes of those who come in contact with the visitor. Sales clerks, servers, and service station attendants are as important as the receptionist at the local visitor's information center. Local officials and residents contribute to the overall appeal and image of the community as they go about their daily routines. Tourism hospitality is the responsibility of both individual businesses and the entire community.

Programs Available

Exploring Community Tourism

This program offers communities throughout Mississippi an opportunity to learn how to assess their tourism potential based on a tourism development model. This model is based on the following five elements: values, attractions, services, marketing, and organization. Through a series of case studies and activities, communities are provided the information necessary to develop their own tourism program through an organized planning process.

Communities learn how to:

• Identify community and tourism development values to guide a community through the tourism development process
• Revitalize your local economy through enhanced community tourism efforts
• Launch a tourism plan that is community-based and follows a five-step tourism development model
• Maintain your rural tourism industry for sustainable community tourism growth

Current Projects

Miss-Lou Regional Tourism Summit—
Identifying and Marketing Your Community Resources
August 9-11, 2006
Natchez & Woodville, MS / Vidalia, LA

The 2006 Miss-Lou Regional Tourism Summit is an educational program designed to bring awareness to the importance of tourism to the region with the expectation that a regional tourism association will emerge from the effort. 

This summit will target the area of eastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi that is affectionately known as the “Miss-Lou.” Predominately situated along the Mississippi River, this region boasts a natural, rural setting that is rich in history, beauty, and attractions. 
               
Community leaders and residents alike are looking for new ways to diversify the area’s traditionally agricultural-based economy.  This summit will highlight how tourism-based initiatives can stimulate new economic activity in rural communities like those found throughout the Miss-Lou. 

The following partners are making this summit possible: