Ingenuity and agility will outlast adversity almost every single time.

That’s the kind of spirit our community needs as the tourism industry begins to feel the affects of the global slowdown.

Hotels and bed and breakfast managers recently warned of the likelihood of layoffs soon if things don’t improve.

Our tourism base has taken a beating in the last few years.

First Katrina came and ruined New Orleans’ tourism, taking down the regional tourism on which Natchez benefitted. Eventually, the Katrina effect removed the steamboats from the mix.

With the demise of the steamboat stops the area lost hundreds and hundreds of well-heeled tourists.

Then just when the new hotels were beginning to get ramped up, skyrocketing gas prices kept most folks home for the summer.

Now the shaky national economy has made tourism a luxury that many people are doing without at the moment.

The latest bad news on the tourism front is the announcement at the River Barge Excursions will cease stopping in Natchez.

Selling leisure travel during a recession is a tough task to be sure.

But we also know that our area is filled with smart folks who, when they put their heads together, can overcome almost any adversity.

This, too, shall pass soon. The key is in retooling our tourism offerings or our marketing message to reach the most potential customers as economically as possible.

Tough times like this call for rallying the troops together and putting more hands onto the problems so we can all pull together.