Discover the Southern Way!

"The Mission of Travel South USA is to promote, foster and encourage travel to and within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,

Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia."

WILKERSON ASSUMES POSITION OF MDA TOURISM DIVISION DIRECTOR

Mary Beth Wilkerson has assumed the role of director of MDA's Tourism Division, succeeding Craig Ray who resigned from the position at the close of 2009. In her new position, Wilkerson is responsible for the overall management of the division as well as the development and implementation of short-and long-range plans and activities that will create economic growth and opportunity through the promotion and development of Mississippi as a tourism destination. The division also houses the Office of Film and Culture and the Welcome Centers/Visitors Services Bureau.

Wilkerson joined the MDA team in 1991, coordinating Mississippi's domestic and international travel trade sales efforts. In 2000, she became the manager of the division's Sales and Marketing Bureau where she worked to create industry cooperative marketing and promotional endeavors. In 2002, she was appointed deputy director of the division, and for the past seven years, she has managed the daily operations of the division and provided extensive tourism development and marketing experience to the state's tourism industry. She also has had operational oversight of the division's Sales and Marketing, Outdoor and Leisure Industries Development, Golf Marketing/Sports Development, Hometown Mississippi Retirement, Research, Grants and Heritage Trails programs.

NYC SALES MISSION RECEIVES AWESOME ACCOLADES

During the first week in December, representatives from 10 state tourism offices travelled to "The Big Apple" to make sales calls & presentations on receptive tour operators.For three days, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia delivered sales presenations to over 50 companies in the New York metro area. Operators raved about the creative presentations, interactive client activities and team approach to sales calls. Invitations for operators and their clients to "Come Discover Southern Big Cities and Small Towns" were very well received - and we hope to see many of our new friends at Showcase in Birmingham, Alabama this April. While it has been some time since the region has collectively been to NYC, the opportunities for new business and stealing market share are sure to make this an annual program.

A LEGACY OF COLLABORATION FOR 45 YEARS

In February 1965, nine Governors of southern states agreed to cooperate in a joint advertising program. Based on the success of the campaign in 1968, eleven Southern Governors signed a resolution to form the Southern Travel Directors Council, now known as Travel South USA. Download a historical look at four decades of cooperative marketing, sales,research, and advertising.

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		FACT: OVER 5 MILLION CANADIAN VISITORS TRAVEL SOUTH Over 5 million Canadian visitors travel south every year and while 2009 will post a decline in visitors, inbound visitation from Canada is expected to increase 10-12% in 2010.  On October 5th, a delegation of 11 state tourism offices participated in the 3rd annual Discover America Day – Canada’s media marketplace and sponsored a educational and engaging multi-media presentation.  In the audience were approximately 100 people including, Canadian travel writers, tour operator and VIP travel trade leaders from the Toronto area.  The group enjoyed the tourism update along with “a day at the races” featuring horse races from Churchill Downs in Kentucky and Charleston Race Track in West Virginia.

TRAVEL SOUTH USA RELEASES 2009-2011 STRATEGIC PLAN 

The Travel South USA Board of Directors has unanimously approved a new strategic direction which will provide the framework for all future destination marketing efforts.  Guided by the strong foundation, the Board renewed the mission, created a vision statement and outlined four strategies to move the organization forward.

• Our Vision is to Secure our position as the #1 Region in the USA
• Our Mission is promote travel to and within the South
• Our strategies are to Grow, Intensify, Reach and Build
• Our singular campaign Theme for 2009-2011 is Big Cities & Small Towns

For more info, download the full plan (pdf)

ATLANTA SET TO HOST TRAVEL SOUTH SHOWCASE IN 2011

The Travel South USA Board of Directors have selected Atlanta, Georgia to host the 2011 Travel South Showcase. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and the Omni Hotel at CNN Center joined together to submit an excellent proposal. The annual event will bring nearly 700 tourism professionals to Georgia from April 3 - 5, 2011. CONTINUE

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR TESTIFIES AT U.S. SENATE HEARING ON TRAVEL

Chad Prosser testified at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.  Prosser shared his perspective on the economic impact in dollars and jobs of travel on South Carolina's economy, how the current downturn is affecting the state and region, and what state and federal efforts would help bolster this vital industry.

Tourism is the fourth-largest export industry in the world. Tourism Expenditures were over $157 Billion to the Travel South USA region in 2007, accounting for roughly 21% of all tourism expenditures in the USA . The region is estimated to attract over 400 Million visitors every year, representing an estimated 45% of total visitor volume for the United States. Southern tourism also generates direct employment of 1.84 Million jobs in the region and provides $24.2 Billion in national, state and local taxes. It is an important, vibrant industry and part of the solution to assist the balance of trade.

TRAVEL SOUTH HOSTS CHINESE TOUR OPERATORS

(Atlanta, GA) Travel South USA recently hosted a large and rather curious group of tour operators during the April 2009 Active America - China marketplace at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta. The luncheon is one of several initiatives of the southern states to welcome and educate Chinese visitors on all the exciting attractions and opportunities within the 12 Southern U.S States.
Highlights and Photos

WELCOME DELTA AIR LINES AND INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATORS!

A new strategic alliance between Travel South USA and Delta Air Lines positions the premier regional marketing organization with the world’s largest global airline and connects qualified international tour operators with southern destinations and suppliers. 

Atlanta, Georgia - As always, we want to make certain that the Southern Travel Industry is the first to know about a new strategic marketing partnership which will enhance our 26 year tradition of Travel South Showcase.   We are very pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Delta Air Lines, as a major sponsor for Travel South Showcase in 2009 and 2010.  Despite the global economic slowdown, the southern USA is the #1 destination in the USA for both domestic and international travelers; and Delta Air Lines offers more service to more destinations in the twelve state region than any other US carrier. Therefore, we believe there is no time like the present to invite select international tour operators to participate in the upcoming Showcases in Florida and Alabama. 

In January, Travel South USA will issue invitations to select international tour operators to participate in the 2009 Showcase in Kissimmee, Florida, and 2010 Showcase in Birmingham, Alabama.   Elite International Buyers will have unprecedented opportunity to fly Delta Air Lines and visit our region to experience our famous hospitality.  A specialized program has been created exclusively for the I-Buyers featuring presentations by the 12 state tourism offices, selected appointment scheduling, as well as access to all marketplace functions and social networking opportunities.    We are confident these new I-Buyers provide growth opportunities for southern destinations and it is our job to connect people to generate tourism revenue for the region. CONTINUE 

TRAVEL SOUTH USA DELEGATION TRAVELS ON A MOMENTOUS MISSION TO CHINA

Ten State Travel Directors along with destination partners and Delta Air Lines recently participated in a 10 day business development mission to Beijing and Shanghai

ATLANTA– The Travel South USA delegation of state travel directors and marketing officers partnered with Delta Air Lines to travel to the People’s Republic of China, November 12 – 23, 2008. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee state travel directors participated in a full schedule of business development meetings with the Provincial Tourism Ministers of China, Chinese journalists, and tour operators to discuss new tourism programs. This is the first time Travel South’s regional partnership has organized a mission to China.

“China is currently the most significant emerging market for outbound international travel,” said Chad Prosser, Travel South USA Chairman and Director of South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism. “This is an excellent opportunity for our Travel South states to establish a positive connection with one of the fastest-growing international leisure travel markets.”The seventeen-person delegation believes this is an important time to promote the region because of the recent changes in Department of Commerce regulations and new airline service, which allows inbound leisure travel from China to the United States not only possible, but imminent.   Under a bilateral travel agreement, signed in December 2007, the United States and China now have the necessary framework to permit group leisure travel from China to the United States. Prior to the agreement, Chinese regulations restricted companies from CONTINUE