Mississippi set a tourism record in 2025, officials announced.
Gov. Tate Reeves and Visit Mississippi Executive Director Rochelle Hicks announced Thursday that the state welcomed 45.5 million visitors in 2025, with tourism activity generating a record $18.9 billion in total economic impact across the state. The figures came from the state’s 2025 Tourism Economic Contribution report. In 2024, Mississippi welcomed 44.2 million visitors in, which generated an $18.1 billion contribution to the state’s economy.
“People are choosing Mississippi. That is not by accident,” Hicks said.
The annual report, conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, measures the economic contribution of travel and tourism to Mississippi’s economy and highlights the industry’s continued role in supporting businesses, jobs, workers and communities throughout the state.
Visitors spent a record $12.4 billion in Mississippi during 2025, supporting a record 137,728 jobs and generating $4.8 billion in personal income for Mississippi workers. Visitor activity also produced $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue, helping fund essential public services throughout the state.
Officials highlighted the following data points from the 2025 report:
- Jobs and personal income: tourism activity supported 137,728 jobs and generated $4.8 billion in personal income for Mississippi workers.
- State and local taxes: visitor activity generated $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue, supporting public services and reducing the tax burden on Mississippi households. The taxes generated by visitors represented an estimated $1,081 in savings for the average Mississippi household.
- Statewide impact: Tourism’s economic contribution extends across all 82 counties, benefiting businesses and communities throughout Mississippi.
Mississippi notably saw large tourism numbers at Cruisin’ the Coast, the Mississippi State Fair, Bulldog Bash, the Double-Decker Arts Festival, and the first-ever College Football Playoff game held in the state. The playoff matchup between Ole Miss and Tulane notably generated more than $70 million for the local economy. The state was also able to attract an audience north of 45 million viewers through its inaugural float in the Rose Parade.
Hicks noted that big events, major marketing efforts, and coordination between state and local tourism partners have made Mississippi a more desirable destination.
“We work with all of our local destination marketing organizations to stretch their marketing dollars further through cooperative advertising opportunities, because when a community can reach an audience it could not reach on its own, Mississippi wins,” Hicks continued.
“When a festival grows enough to bring in more out of state visitors Mississippi wins. When a sporting event fills hotel rooms, when a museum welcomes a group, when a restaurant welcomes travelers who heard about it through one of our campaigns, that impact spreads.”
Officials are optimistic that tourism numbers will continue to grow in the coming years.