NATCHEZ — Visitors to Natchez spent an estimated $106.7 million from June 2012 to July 2013, according to a recent state report.

The Mississippi Development Authority released its annual report last week on the economic contribution of the travel and tourism industry for the state fiscal year 2013, which ran from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

The report shows Natchez visitors spent 13.2 percent more in the 2013 fiscal year than the $94.2 million spent in the 2012 fiscal year.

Room and restaurant tax revenues totaled $1.59 million, up 12.6 percent over the $1.41 collected in the 2012 fiscal year. The tax revenues include the 3 percent lodging, $2 hotel and bed-and-breakfast occupancy and 1.5 percent restaurant taxes.

Room tax revenues were approximately $909,000, up from the $744,000 collected in the 2012 fiscal year.

Restaurant tax revenues were approximately $679,000, up from approximately $667,000 collected in the 2012 fiscal year.

An estimated 160 travel and tourism jobs were created in Adams County during the 2013 fiscal year.

Natchez Tourism Director  Connie Taunton said those jobs can be attributed to the opening of Magnolia Bluffs Casino, Holiday Inn Express and new restaurants.

Travel and tourism jobs account for one in five of all non-farm jobs, or approximately 20 percent of jobs, according to the report.

Taunton said she was happy to hear tourism tax revenues and employment increased last fiscal year.

“It goes to show that our marketing dollars are working … and we just hope to continue building upon that,” she said.

Mayor Butch Brown said tourism has for many years been a meaningful segment of the local economy.

“Some people would argue it’s still our largest industry,” he said. “It’s bailed us out of slow times many times, and it continues to grow.”

Brown said he is “very happy” with the work of the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau. Brown said he was also encouraged by the National Park Service’s recent report showing more than 180,000 visitors came to Natchez National Historical Park in 2012.

The money generated by tourism not only helps the city budget, Brown said, it also benefits local businesses.

“(The impact expands) into things like gasoline, food and beverage, local grocery stores, antique stores, downtown merchants, shopping center merchants,” he said. “All those things have a bearing on the economy of our community.”

Overall, visitors to Mississippi spent an estimated $6.25 billion last fiscal year, said Jennifer Spann, public relations manager for the Mississippi Development Authority’s Division of Tourism.

“We always tout that tourism contributes to our state revenue, and, of course, cities like Natchez are particularly popular destinations and may make larger contributions than maybe some smaller communities,” Spann said.

The travel and tourism industry is the fourth-largest private sector employer in the state, Spann said.

“We want people to understand tourism is important,” she said. “It does have an economic impact.”