NATCHEZ &045; Natchez may be a little short on hotel rooms, but tourism leaders should continue to look for ways to market the city, a state official told members of the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau board Wednesday.

Craig Ray, director of the Tourism Division of the Mississippi Development Authority, said state leaders are aware of the problems faced by communities that relay on tourism dollars. &uot;What we can do is protect the business we have now by moving conventions scheduled for the coast to other places,&uot; Ray said. &uot;We’re constantly on message that the state is open for business.&uot;

Ray encouraged CVB board members to &uot;reach outside your boundaries. We want to keep a large percentage of the $2 billion in business from the Gulf Coast in this state.&uot;

Natchez tourism leaders have met several times in the last two weeks to discuss ways to market the city in areas within driving distance. Billboards are being prepared to advertise three specific Natchez events in the Baton Rouge market, said Rene Adams of Dunleith Plantation and a CVB board member.

Those events are Art and Soul, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, a downtown festival celebrating Natchez artists; the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, Oct. 14-16; and Natchez Fall Pilgrimage, Oct. 22-Nov. 5.

More advertising money may be available from the state in coming months, Ray said. &uot;After the first of the year, the governor will ask for specific funds for economic development and tourism to re-market the state of Mississippi.&uot;

Mary Beth Wilkerson, also from the state tourism office, told CVB board members to call their partners in the industry and ask for help.

&uot;Call the group tour operators and travel writers. Tell them now is the time you need their help,&uot; she said. &uot;Natchez is sitting on a gold mine, in my estimation.&uot;

Jim Coy, president of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, provided a comparison to demonstrate the impact Hurricane Katrina has had on fall tourism.

&uot;Last year at this time, we had 50 buses coming to Fall Pilgrimage,&uot; he said. &uot;This year, we have four.&uot;

Still, he reiterated a statement made at a previous tourism meeting, that sensitivity to the losses of hurricane victims must supersede any regrets about low visitor numbers.

The board will meet again Monday at 2 p.m. at the Natchez Convention Center.