NATCHEZ — The familiar sight of hot-air balloons dancing across the Natchez sky was chosen to be the cover of the state’s official tourism publication this year.

The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race was spotlighted on the cover of the 2012 Mississippi Tour Guide published by the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division in partnership with the Mississippi Tourism Association.

The guide is a handbook of the state’s tourist attractions, events, accommodations, restaurants, maps and other travel information.

The cover was photographed in town in September and unveiled Jan. 4 at MTA’s annual legislative luncheon at the Jackson Convention Center.

Representatives from Natchez, including Mayor Jake Middleton and Director of Tourism Connie Taunton, attended the luncheon.

Taunton said getting the cover of the guide was a collaborative effort that was not an easy undertaking.

“But the end result is something of which we are extremely proud and equally honored to have been selected,” Taunton said.

Middleton said he believes that the decision to showcase Natchez on the cover of the guide reflects the city’s great history and tourist attractions, as well as the hard work of the balloon race committee.

“Natchez is beautiful, but if we didn’t have the people behind the (balloon) race working hard, it wouldn’t be a success,” he said.

Babs Price, executive director of the balloon race committee, said the cover is a testament to the committee’s year-round work.

“We work hard so the race pays off for Natchez, which is what our goal is, to bring people into Natchez to spend money and enjoy themselves,” she said. “I’m really excited that it’s working.”

Marybeth Wilkerson, MDA’s director of tourism, said the guide is designed to highlight Mississippi and the full breadth of its tourism attractions.

“The cover photograph captures that diversity, along with providing an attention-grabbing image that says ‘Mississippi’ to visitors and residents alike,” she said in a press release.

Approximately 300,000 copies of the tour guide will be available for distribution by the end of the month. Guides will be available at the state’s 13 welcome centers or by requesting a copy on www.visitmississippi.org or by calling 601-359-3297.