Easter week is upon us. The azaleas are in full bloom, and spring has sprung with the promise of renewal epitomized by the Easter story of death, rebirth, renewal, revival, resurrection and hope for an eternal future.

And so it is in Natchez, where we celebrated Palm Sunday as Pilgrimage brought visitors from far and wide, to see and experience the glory of the antebellum South with the pageantry and royalty the Pilgrimage provides.

Natchez, it seems, is one of the South’s best-kept secrets among a certain set who love to come here for vacations and weekend getaways, but area leaders are working hard to share that secret with a broader audience and improve the tourism draw.

To that end, the Natchez Rotary Club has done its part recently hosting a Rotary International training seminar at the Natchez Convention Center with Rotary clubs from throughout the region.

Natchez beat out other locations, including New Orleans, Vicksburg and Jackson to host the event, and the club recently announced the event’s organizers have agreed to hold the event in Natchez again next year with an estimated $100,000 impact on tourism.

The 30th annual Powwow event Saturday and Sunday also was a draw for tourists to get a better understanding of Natchez’s more distant past through celebrating Natchez’s Native American heritage with traditional dances, games and arts and crafts represented by the Choctaw, Comanche, Kiowa, Natchez. Otoe, Osage and Ponca tribes.

The Monmouth Historic Inn is doing its part to draw tourists by earning another AAA Four Diamond Rating for excellence in hotel service, making it among the longest-standing Southern hotels to hold that rating.

Area economic, civic and governmental leaders are again working on plans to revitalize the old train depot on Broadway Street in Natchez, particularly refining ideas for what type of business might be best-suited for the space and how the space could be modified to meet those needs.

They also are working with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to ensure whatever is done maintains the structure’s historical value.

Economic and community leaders also have been working hard in recent weeks to maximize the city’s potential to attract industry and commerce by seeking a grant to improve the city’s existing internet services and to let the world know that Natchez is wired and ready to keep visitors and industry connected.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten also is working hard to curtail youth offenders and set them on a better path by making them understand the consequences of their actions and by making sure their parents are involved in the process as well.

Coordination among agencies, organizations and officials, working together with the common goal of attracting tourism, supporting business, growing business and getting the word out are key to an economic revival for Natchez.

On this Easter week and throughout this spring season, my hopes spring eternal their efforts will take off and bring Natchez a bright economic future.

Scott Hawkins is editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540 or scott.hawkins@natchezdemocrat.com.