The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism today announces Fiscal Year 2006 sales (July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006) at Mississippi public golf courses increased 8.6 percent over FY 2005.
"These statistics are particularly telling because they occurred during a terribly challenging time, and they show how popular Mississippi's golf-and-gaming attractions have become," says D. Craig Ray, MDA tourism division director. "Visitors tell us they love complementing their one-of-kind golf trips in Mississippi by experiencing our casino resorts, world-famous blues music, renowned culinary offerings, Southern hospitality and our history, heritage and architecture."
Fiscal Year 07 sales should further demonstrate Mississippi's trend as the nation's rising golf-and-gaming tourism star, due in part to several resorts, casinos and new courses which opened in 2006 and others slated to debut in 2007.
These include:
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi (Summer 2007 scheduled opening)
- The Preserve Golf Club, a Jerry Pate design and amenity of the Palace Casino
- Fallen Oak, a Tom Fazio design and amenity of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
- The Dogwoods at Hugh White State Park (Gary Roger Baird design), one of three top-notch courses found in state parks (Mallard Point and Quail Hollow are others)
"Mississippi has worked hard to entice avid golf-and-gaming travelers to visit our great state, because we knew if we got them here once, they would come back," Ray says. "The sales increases demonstrate the rising trend of visitors to Mississippi and we hope increasingly more visitors will judge our offerings for themselves."
Attractions contributing to Mississippi's growing popularity as a golf-and-travel destination are:
- Great year-round weather and direct flights from major carriers
- More than 150 courses offering all price points and design varieties in five distinct regions
- New and existing courses designed by top golf course architects that garner national recognition
- World-famous cuisine, blues music and luxurious casino resorts offering big-name entertainment
- Family-themed attractions
- Acclaim from the annual PGA Tour golf tournament held in Jackson
- History, heritage and architecture, including Antebellum Era mansions turned award-winning B&B venues.
The state offers five diverse topographical and cultural regions:
- The Delta - birthplace of the Blues and comprised of Northwestern flatlands
- The Hills - home of gently rolling, Northeastern landscapes
- The Pines - located in the Central-East part of the state and blanketed with quiet forests
- The Capital/River - with its winding waterways and rich history in the state's Central-Southwest
- The Coastal - located in the South and featuring the Gulf of Mexico's sparkling water and beaches
In addition to being annually acclaimed for its golf courses and other tourism attractions, Mississippi has collected a slew of distinctions recently. For instance, ZAGAT Survey, Golf Digest, Golfweek and Golf magazines have previously rated Mississippi courses as some of the best in the nation.
A free Golf Mississippi Travel Guide and more information about Mississippi golf is available by calling 866-801-8551 or visiting www.visitmississippi.org.
