NATCHEZ &045; A downtown business opened its doors to 33 Mississippi welcome center visitors Sunday, the first stop on a whirlwind tour of Natchez attractions, restaurants, hotels and shops.

&uot;I’m excited to have them,&uot; said Jonathan Woods, owner of Old South Trading Post, corner of Main and Canal streets. &uot;Our building is 202 years old. We creak a little, but we have fun.&uot;

Called a &uot;familiarization tour&uot; in the tourism sector, the visit by the welcome center workers will provide them with a close-up view of the city’s assets, said Sharon Goodrich, who planned the three-day visit. &uot;These are the ones who sit at the front desks at the welcome centers. People ask them what to see and where to go.&uot;

Mississippi has 11 centers around the state, with one more proposed for construction.

The visitors are guests of the Eola Hotel. They will visit the Isle of Capri Hotel for a complimentary breakfast. And other businesses are providing complimentary meals, including Castle at Dunleith, Monmouth, Cock of the Walk and Main Street Marketplace Caf.

In addition to touring the Natchez City Cemetery, the group will see historic houses such as Longwood, Auburn, Rosalie and Linden.

&uot;And then one whole afternoon, we will take them in small groups into downtown, Canal Street Depot and Under-the-Hill stores,&uot; Goodrich said. &uot;We want them to see all the neat places where tourists can shop.&uot;

Woods spotlighted some of his unique products for the welcome center workers to see and to sample, from a steamboat Natchez Christmas ornament to Fall Pilgrimage T-shirts.

He served his specialty fudges and pralines as well as Southern Comfort peach tea and Jack Daniels coffees and other treats.

&uot;I believe it’s a unique opportunity to have them come here,&uot; he said. &uot;We have fun with all the tourists who come here.&uot;

Goodrich said her hope is to have the welcome center hosts go back with the idea that &uot;my gosh, you’ve got to go to Natchez.&uot;

The visitors will wear badges to identify that they work for the state welcome centers, Goodrich said. She hopes anyone who meets the visitors as they move about town will stop and welcome them.

&uot;These people promote Mississippi every day. But they also promote Natchez, too,&uot; she said.