BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
Sixty days. That's how long Harrison County tourism leaders have to make some vital changes, and end the apparent ongoing turf war that's got public officials worried about the future of the coast tourism industry.
One of the supervisors most concerned about the turf battle is Windy Swetman. "The board gave those individuals that were there, those tourism leaders, a timeline of 60 days; to get together, get a plan, so we can move forward with that plan as one united group," Swetman said.
Some say the state of Mississippi tourism is a reflection of that lack of unity. For example using BP grant money last year, tourism in Alabama rose 51%, while Florida saw a 61% boost. Despite of having the same resources, Mississippi's tourism industry only had a 7% jump.
Mississippi received $16 million from BP to bolster its tourism industry after the 2010 oil spill. That money is being controlled by a newly created tri-county partnership called the Destination Marketing Organization. And that group is still working on a strategic plan to best use the BP money.
"The tourism officials in all of those areas received the funds and they acted with it immediately and continuously. We have not received those funds," Beth Carriere, of the Harrison County Tourism Commission said. The tourism commission has no say over how the $16 million will be spent.
Instead, that power belongs to the DMO. Kim Fritz is on that board. "The problem is we have two organizations with the same goal, but we're meeting separately with separate groups of people," Fritz said. "So the commission is having their meeting discussing their budget and making decisions, while we're having, on the tourism partnership, board meetings with our budget and making decisions."
Regardless of how things ended up the way they are, all parties involved can agree on one thing. It's time to move forward for the entire industry's sake.
"I look forward to a meeting of the minds I think it's well overdue.. We welcome the business community to be involved with tourism because after all, tourism is business," Carriere said.
Fritz agreed. "If we don't have to spend so much time coordinating things separately, it'll make it easier, more seamless and more effective," she said.
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