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PRESS RELEASES March 2, 2001 DIVISION OF TOURISM PUBLISHES ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism Development has published the latest edition of its economic impact report - "Fiscal Year 2000 Economic Impact for Tourism and Recreation in Mississippi." The report compares Tourism/ Recreation economic impact data at the state and county level for Fiscal Year 1999 and Fiscal Year 2000. Tourism/Recreation is big business in Mississippi. It is the second largest service sector employer in the state. In 1999, 32 million people visited the state; daily overnight visitor expenditures averaged $92 - $3 higher than the national average of $89. "The Tourism and Recreation industry is vital to Mississippi. This report demonstrates its significance to the lives of Mississippians in dollars and cents," said Darienne Wilson, Director of the Division of Tourism Development. Report highlights include: · Tourism/Recreation statewide income was $6.1 billion in FY 2000 and $5.6 billion in FY 1999. · Tourism/Recreation General Fund (state) tax revenue totaled $482.3 million for FY 2000 and $444.8 million in FY 1999. · City/County tax revenues based on room/restaurant, gaming, and seawall tax collections were $140.9 million in FY 2000 and $122.7 million in FY 1999. · The 35,206 gaming jobs based on FY 2000 quarterly averages were 37.4% of all FY 2000 Tourism/Recreation direct jobs. FY 2000 Gross Gaming revenues of $2.6 billion accounted for 42.9 percent of the statewide Tourism/Recreation income while $209.5 million in FY 2000 gaming-related general fund tax revenues comprised 43.4 percent of all Tourism/Recreation general fund tax revenues. Contact: Jennifer Spann, 601.359.6680 Note to Media Only: If you would like
a copy of the report, Mollie Gregory
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