NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A new regional tourism campaign will launch in May, targeting visitors from neighboring states as New Orleans works to boost its summer season with new sporting events.
The city will host its first X Games championships and the Sail 250 celebration for America’s 250th anniversary this summer. The events join Essence Fest, which announced that George Clinton with Parliament-Funkadelic will perform at the Superdome.
“What I would say to anyone in Biloxi or Mobile or anywhere in the region is come to New Orleans. It’s a great road trip,” said Kelly Schultz of New Orleans & Co. “In fact, we’re working right now on a campaign for the summer that will be specifically targeted to a regional drive-in audience, and we know many of those folks will also opt for the Amtrak service.”
Schultz said the campaign is being filmed now, with more details to be released in May.
The push comes after a record-breaking Mardi Gras as the city hosts spring breakers and prepares for festival season.
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“We are in the middle of the busy season right now, so business is booming,” said Lemen Prinston, a driver for Royal Carriages.
According to New Orleans & Co, which markets the region to visitors and conventions worldwide, 85,000 people work locally in the tourism industry. In 2024, 19 million people visited, with an economic impact of $10 billion.
“It’s very, very important, so anything we can do to expedite and make tourists’ availability easier is going to benefit all of us,” said Annie Russell, an associate at Muse Inspired Fashions.
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