Published 3:40 pm Sunday, May 19, 2024 By topofthemorning Tourism. For many years, almost 100 in fact, it is what has kept Natchez going — even through hard times. And last year, one million tourists visited Natchez, accounting for $100 million in economic impact and over 1,800 jobs, making Natchez, on a per capita basis, the top performing tourism destination of any small city in our region.
Sunday kicks off National Travel and Tourism Week, being celebrated across our country from May 19 to May 25. This is indeed a time for Natchez to celebrate, being that tourism continues to be our leading industry. From carriage rides to sunsets, Natchez has it all.
The events calendar alone rivals any city in our state, with festivals and special celebrations taking place year round. Just last week we hosted a major community carnival on our bluff while so many other happenings, from art shows to concerts were taking place, all at the same time. And our long-cherished Spring and Fall Pilgrimages, along with events like our amazing Balloon Festival, Angels on the Bluff, and Mardi Gras celebrations, continually draw thousands to “our shining city on the river’s highest hill.
” One of the things that excites me the most when I speak of tourism is the growing list of events and ways in which we are celebrating our African American history — telling our whole story. NAPAC, the Natchez African American Museum of History and Culture on Main Street has become a vital partner in telling.
