Page 9 - MGHA - Annual Report, 2017

Scarlet Pearl’s LavaLinks Biloxi Shuckers Stadium Miniature Golf Course at MGM Park
FOR GULF COAST CASINOS AND FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE
In 2016,the Gulf Coast operators experienced revenue growth compared to prior year for a third year in a row — the first time this has happened since 2007. Gulf Coast revenues increased more than 3.5 percent, reaching nearly $1.2 billion for the first time since 2008.Notably,between 2011 and 2016,the Gulf Coast operators invested more than $1.6 billion,and in 2016, Margaritaville Resort (a non-gaming hotel and resort) opened in Biloxi featuring a water park and arcade-style entertainment for families.
While its official report is not released until March, for 2016, MDA Tourism’s Office (Visit Mississippi) estimates a total of 23 million out-of-state visitors to Mississippi with an estimated spend of $6.3 billion, representing increases in both categories. Craig Ray, director of Visit Mississippi, said,“We are very pleased to note that the overall increase in visitation to Mississippi continued in 2016, reaching 23 million visitors.”
The travel and tourism industry remains the fourth largest industry in Mississippi,accounting for more than 86,600 direct jobs.The gaming industry accounts for 21,250 direct jobs,which equates to one-fourth of the total jobs making up the travel and tourism industry.In 2016,the Mississippi casino-resorts attracted 14.2 million out-of-state visitors and generated nearly $3 billion in total revenue, of which $2.119 billion was gaming revenue and $776 million was non-gaming revenue, which equates to 46 percent of the visitor spend estimated by MDA Tourism.
Ray added,“We at Visit Mississippi attribute the increase in visitation and spend to the added amenities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast,recent seating expansion at football stadiums in Oxford and Starkville,among other reasons,such as a new Grammy Museum in Cleveland,Mississippi.The boost in visitation is good for all Mississippi businesses,and I appreciate and look forward to the continue collaboration with our industry associations in tourism,hotel,restaurant and gaming to further boost the state visitation numbers.”
2016