JACKSON — District 38 Sen. Kelvin Butler was honored this week by the Mississippi Tourism Association as the 2010 MTA Legislative Friend of Tourism recipient for his aggressive support of tourism throughout the state.

Butler, of Magnolia, is chairman of the Senate Local and Private Committee, and has diligently urged communities across the state during the recent economic downturn, to promote themselves as tourism hubs, drawing in transient dollars to restaurants, hotels, convenience stores and other businesses.

“In times like these it’s important that we be creative and do all we can to promote our great state and let our visitors know how important our state is,” Butler said