St. Mary celebrates National Tourism Week

Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau is highlighting tourism in St. Mary Parish as it celebrates National Tourism Week, May 6-12.

Though tourism in the parish has taken a hit due to the economic downturn, St. Mary still has much to offer for visitors, a Cajun Coast news release said.

Statewide, tourism flourished in 2017.

The Louisiana Office of Tourism recently announced its record breaking tourism year, which is a $1 billion industry for Louisiana and the fourth largest employer for the state, the release said.

According to the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s recent report, over 47.1 million people visited Louisiana in 2017 — representing a nearly 1 percent increase from 2016. From those visitors, over $17.5 billion was generated in both domestic and international visitor spending — creating over $1.8 billion in state and local tax revenues from tourism activities, including shopping, visiting family and friends and dining, the release said.

The Cajun Coast relies on the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s success.

“There are literally dozens of events and activities that locals can participate on any given weekend in St. Mary Parish. Finding time to attend everything is the real challenge,” said Carrie Stansbury, Cajun Coast executive director.

While the state’s overall numbers are up, St Mary Parish’s tourism dollars have declined due to the slowing of the oil and gas industry and the associated business travelers, the release said.

Tourism expenditures in St. Mary Parish totaled $58 million in 2017. The parish’s tourism industry had a $22.48 million payroll with about 830 residents employed in tourism. Over $7.5 million in local and state sales taxes were generated from tourist activities, Stansbury said.

In 2017, the Cajun Coast welcome centers in Morgan City and Franklin counseled 2,586 people. Of those visitors, 82 percent were from Louisiana, 9 percent from Texas, 1 percent from California, 5 percent from Mississippi, 1 percent from Florida and 2 percent from Michigan. International visitors hailed from Canada, France and Germany.

“These numbers are significantly down in 2017 due to the closure of the (Morgan City welcome center) during the upgrading of the levee system and the parking lot construction,” Stansbury said.

Stansbury stressed the importance of supporting St. Mary Parish companies.

“It’s important, also, that the community supports our local businesses,” Stansbury said. “We’d like to challenge the community to shop, eat or utilize services in St. Mary Parish and support the businesses that support us when we ask for donations.”

Events hosted during the year in St. Mary Parish included the 2017 Babe Ruth Girls State Softball Tournament, Louisiana City Marshal’s Annual Conference, Cajun Coast Classic Horseshoe Tournament and more.

“We had some great partners that bid on events and helped to make sure these events were successful,” Stansbury said. “Hotels, private citizens, city and parish employees, restaurants, gas stations, city and parish leaders — everyone involved played a vital role. We’re hoping to continue this success.”

Upcoming events for the parish include the remaining concerts for Rhythms on the River; Bayou BBQ Bash in July; Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival on Labor Day weekend; a string of events in October, including Harvest Moon Fest in Franklin, Patterson Main Street celebration, Chitimacha Pow Wow, Berwick Lighthouse Festival, and Tour du Teche in Charenton, Franklin and Berwick; and then Christmas activities to the end year.

Two events that officials hope generate lots of interest include Bikers on the Bayou, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the filming of Easy Rider; and a Tarzan event, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the debut of the Tarzan of the Apes on the silver screen. Cajun Coast will host a costume contest and yell contest for King & Queen of the Louisiana Jungle.

Other attractions in St. Mary Parish include Louisiana State Museum — Patterson, home to the Wedell Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill exhibits. St. Mary Parish is also part of the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway program and part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Program, which is also part of the National Park System and the Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild, a course on the Audubon Golf Trail.