Natchez is in the midst of its participation in National Travel and Tourism Week. That’s a good time for us to reflect on all the dollars tourism generates in our community, and to also remind ourselves of the role we each play in making tourists feel welcome during their visits.

The tourism industry generated more than $107 million in Natchez and Adams County in 2014, said officials at the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau. Gross room tax revenue generated was $889,094. The tourism industry directly employs 2,275 people in Natchez and Adams County. That’s 20.5 percent of those employed in our area who work in the tourism and travel industry.

In addition, the folks at the Natchez CVB said tax relief per household at a result of tourism in Adams County is $903. State, local taxes and fees collected here attributed to tourism totaled $10,917,138 in 2014.

Those numbers show how important tourism is to the Natchez’s economic engine. While you may not directly work in the tourism industry, all of us share the responsibility to put our best foot forward when coming into contact with our visitors.  Be helpful and courteous. Be patient in understanding they may not be accustomed to our one-way streets downtown and may need help from us with directions.

Making our visitors feel welcome and at home is the best thing we can do as individuals to help tourism prosper here.

Take this week to seek out a visitor and welcome them to our community. That’s the best way we can assure they’ll keep coming back.