Dozens of state, federal and private groups have spent chunks of the last six years tracking the Hurricane Katrina recovery process.

But it’s doubtful that any such group has a tab on a spreadsheet labeled “Natchez, Miss., Pilgrimage.”

Still, the local tourism industry was very much a victim of Hurricane Katrina.

Riverboat tours — which brought hundreds of annual visitors to Natchez — ceased to exist after the storm. Group bus tours that began in New Orleans have declined significantly.

Tourism in Natchez hasn’t been the same since Katrina.

Yet, the spreadsheet would show some positive progress this year.

With tours and entertainment over, local tourism officials are doing some calculating this week.

So far, they are smiling.

Group house tour ticket sales were up 41 percent since last year. The number of tourists staying in hotels and dining in town was up 45 percent.

Those are significant gains of which to be proud.

Katrina changed life for many people, especially in our neck of the woods. Whether our data makes the national charts or not, realizing the storm’s impact on local tourism is important.

Recovery, one step at a time, is more important.