Group looks to bolster tourism

By Mary Hood (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Sunday, September 7, 2008

NATCHEZ — A meeting to develop a strategic plan for bolstering heritage tourism in Natchez will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the theater at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center.

The Natchez National Historical Park has teamed up with Mississippi Heritage Trust, the Mississippi African American Historic Preservation Council and the Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism.

Together, these entities want to create a plan that will help identify, interpret and preserve African American Historical sites in Natchez.

Natchez National Historical Park Superintendent Kathleen Jenkins said focusing on heritage tourism is a good direction to go.

“I think Natchez tourism for a long time has been focused on hospitality,” Jenkins said.

The plan will include enhancement of sites that have already been identified and developed such as the William Johnson House, the Forks of the Road site, Fort McPherson and many others.

But Jenkins said the plan will help illuminate sites that the city may not know about, or know about and haven’t developed yet.

“These are important stories that we need to flush out and understand,” Jenkins said. “It’s a learning experience for a lot of people.”

She said with antebellum tourism being covered pretty well, delving into heritage tourism will tell a more holistic story.

It will also be a good progression in tourism in general, Jenkins said.

“Sometimes you move forward by looking back,” she said.

The tourism plan will be developed by Mary Ruffin Hanbury of Hanbury Preservation Consulting.

The final plan is projected to be completed by December.