MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Message from the President & CEO

“Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.”

-Napoleon Hill

Greetings from Visit Jackson, your capital city’s DMAP accredited with distinction Official Destination Leadership Organization.

Fiscal year 2021 continued to be one of the most challenging for Jacksonians and the global tourism and hospitality communities. The impact of the Coronavirus global pandemic has been indelible, with the tourism economy suffering critically. Jackson and Hinds County tourism is a crucial component of our state’s economy and workforce, contributing and representing nearly 17% of those mentioned above. The support of our Mississippi legislative leadership provided a lifeline to the Mississippi tourism industry, providing service to those visiting our state and augmenting our tax base through economic impact and vitality.

Now that we have vaccines available, recovery is achievable. As economic development leaders, our responsibility is to utilize our influence to encourage tourism stakeholders to take advantage of these medical resources. We cannot afford to turn back the hands of time.

Visit Jackson is dedicated to contributing to the recovery of the community and the tourism industry during the upcoming fiscal year. In the past year, we have executed several research projects that have yielded robust results for the capital region. Moving forward, you will see a comprehensive strategy developed from a data and researchdriven framework. Together with industry partners and political stakeholders, the execution of these plans will further propel Jackson as a formidable and respected tourism destination.

Visit Jackson and its industry partners pledge to execute these plans utilizing medical and safety best practices to protect our workforce, citizens, and visitor population from future public health challenges.

I want to take this opportunity to extend heartfelt gratitude to the Jackson visitor industry partners, our VIPs, for embracing collective ambition and unwavering dedication, endurance, support and commitment to not only survive during these unprecedented times but to thrive.

I would also like to thank the Visit Jackson Board of Directors for their leadership, confidence, and support over the past year. Again, thank you to our state leadership for their vision and leadership.

Jackson, Mississippi is the CITY WITH SOUL. We call ourselves that because of our resilient, warm, innovative, authentic and generous people. If we work together, we cannot fail!

Victory and opportunity await us!

Together we will achieve success because we have each other and HOPE!

Rickey L. Thigpen

Rickey L. Thigpen, PhD

President & CEO

Visit Jackson