A little publicity never hurt anyone, but a whole lot of publicity can pile some good for everyone.

Natchez is lucky that it was chosen to be the cover model for this year’s Mississippi Tour Guide, published by the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division and the Mississippi Tourism Association.

The cover photograph was created especially for the guide and features hot-air balloons soaring over the beautiful Mississippi River.

It’s a gorgeous view; one that we locals can often take for granted.

But, as Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton said, it’s not just the views that make Natchez so attractive to tourists.

“Natchez is beautiful, but if we didn’t have the people behind the (balloon) race working hard, it wouldn’t be a success.”

He’s correct, but it’s also deeper than that.

Natchez is more than just the balloon race, though it’s a huge weekend. It’s more than just our two pilgrimages, though those are pretty special, too.

Natchez is more than just it’s history, though it’s beautifully preserved.

Natchez is all of those things and more, and as the mayor said, behind each one of those, are dozens of caring, concerned citizens, gutsy dedicated business owners and tourism professionals working hard to make it a great place for visitors.

Our residents possess an innate curiosity that sets us apart and make us attractive — regardless of whether we’re on the cover of a magazine or not. (But the magazine cover does show us off well.)