Louisiana’s economy is set to reopen this weekend. Efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 has closed business in New Orleans and across the state. Tourism has taken a huge hit economically, especially tourism businesses in New Orleans.
But, it was a very different picture in 2019 where Louisiana saw gains across the board in tourism dollars and the volume of visitors to the state.
According to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser’s State of Tourism Industry Report, in 2019 there were over 100,000 rooms booked statewide which is a 1.5 percent increase year over year.
Tourism jobs were also up 2% by the end of 2019, adding 3,500 new tourism-related jobs since the beginning of the year.
International visitors were also up in 2019. The report shows a 3% growth in the number of foreign visitors to the state. Visitors particularly form oversea countries increased to 1.3% over 2018. Last year
A few notable awards and achievements in Louisiana tourism has helped the growth. New Orleans was voted 3rd in the South’s Best City by Southern Living, 2019 and Natchitoches was voted 8th in the Best Small Towns in Every State by Southern Living in 2019.
Also in 2019, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival also ranked 4th in Best Cultural Festival by 10 Best USA Today Readers’ Choice.
