Tourism Cares for the Mississippi Gulf Coast

On March 16 - 19, 2006, more than 330 volunteers from the tourism industry put in two full days of “hard labor” at a number of coastal sites in Gulfport, Biloxi, D’Iberville and Long Beach to help restore the area after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Examples of the work included removal of debris, raking, planting, painting and general cleanup.

From sifting through rubble to save historic artifacts to planting sod that would provide a sense of normalcy along Beach Boulevard, tourism volunteers from every level and sector found validation in the work accomplished and the warm friendships made with Gulf Coast residents.  Transportation executives, hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents, presidents of convention and visitors bureaus, and other industry professionals came to work, and work they did, laying 165 pallets of sod, cleaning two tons of debris from attractions such as Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home, and the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, painting and restoring the interactive Lynn Meadows Children Center, and sending a wave of optimism through the area. 

“Tourism Cares was one of the earliest volunteer groups to come and give critical help to the Mississippi Gulf Coast shortly after the storm.  Not only did you give two days of help but the publicity of your efforts provided the impetus for others to help. Since that time, more than ½ million volunteers have followed in your footsteps and come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help the community get back on its feet.” - Steve Richer, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau

“Tourism is a $6.35 billion industry and a huge part of the local economy along this coast.  Katrina not only washed away the culturally historic communities here, it also washed away a big part of our livelihood, but it could not take away our spirit. I cannot believe the substantial progress Tourism – Caring for America volunteers made.  With 20 percent of our economy laid off due to Katrina-related issues, we have been working day in and day out over the past six months to get our communities back on track.  This kind of concentrated effort makes us feel like we moved mountains in just a few days.” - Craig Ray, director of tourism, Mississippi Development Authority.

Mississippi Gulf Coast key facts:

• The dedicated volunteers put in a combined 5,000 hours of work towards this cleanup effort.
• Tourism Cares distributed grants totaling $100,000 (including the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1) to tourism-related sites along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas through the sale of Tourism Cares for the Gulf Coast wristbands.  All wristband sales were matched by Tourism Cares and Trip Mate, and many were matched by Ensemble Travel, Mohegan Sun, Tauck World Discovery and the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI).