The Mississippi Development Authority shall have the following general powers and duties with respect to tourism:
To promote and advertise the image of Mississippi both within and without the boundaries of this state;
To promote and advertise fairs and similar activities of interest to tourists and the traveling public;
To promote and advertise the use of wildlife and natural areas by tourists and the traveling public;
To promote and advertise the use of state recreational and park facilities by tourists and the traveling public;
To promote and advertise all resources of the State of Mississippi as attractions to tourists and the traveling public;
To develop for all agencies of state government the necessary promotional and advertising materials needed to promote all facilities and programs which may be of interest to travelers and tourists;
To maintain an educational awareness program for the citizens of the state to constantly encourage increased development of activities of interest to tourists and the traveling public;
To develop and maintain an information services system to adequately guide tourists and the traveling public within the boundaries of the state;
To develop and maintain an extensive media program to adequately inform the national and international consumer about Mississippi;
To enter into contracts and other agreements with local tourism commissions or similar entities for the purpose of developing regional strategies for tourism promotion. The Mississippi Development Authority, in conjunction with the formulation of regional strategies for tourism promotion, may require that local tourism commissions or similar entities enter into agreements with the authority as a condition for receiving any state grants to promote tourism; and
To develop programs and projects promoting the state's heritage, history, culture, literature and arts, including the positive recovery of the state after damages caused by natural disasters, and demonstrating the state's attractiveness as a tourism destination for those and other reasons.
Structure Mississippi Code
Title 57 - Planning, Research and Development
Chapter 1 - Mississippi Development Authority
§ 57-1-1. Declaration of public policy
§ 57-1-3. Mississippi Development Authority seal
§ 57-1-7. Department motor vehicle insurance
§ 57-1-11. Rules and regulations
§ 57-1-13. Plans for advertising and developing state
§ 57-1-15. Interstate and federal cooperation; Economic Development Fund
§ 57-1-17. Publicity and advertising; research laboratory
§ 57-1-19. Municipal enterprises; certificate of public convenience and necessity
§ 57-1-21. Municipal enterprises; issuance of certificate
§ 57-1-25. Municipal enterprises; election
§ 57-1-27. Bonds and certain contracts subject to approval of executive director
§ 57-1-29. Issuance of municipal bonds; form; terms; tax levy
§ 57-1-31. Compensation of attorneys employed in issuance of bonds
§ 57-1-33. Duties of executive director as to issuance of bonds
§ 57-1-37. Issuance of additional bonds by municipality
§ 57-1-39. Exemption from taxation of bonds
§ 57-1-41. Investment of surplus sinking funds in bonds
§ 57-1-43. Payment and retirement of bonds; use of surplus income
§ 57-1-45. Sale, lease, etc., of municipal enterprises
§ 57-1-47. Municipal enterprises exempt from taxation
§ 57-1-49. Assistance by port authorities
§ 57-1-51. Construction of Sections 57-1-1 through 57-1-51
§ 57-1-56. Occupational Information Coordinating Committee
§ 57-1-57. Study to determine existence of disparity in number of qualified minority contractors
§ 57-1-59. General powers and duties of Mississippi Development Authority with respect to tourism
§ 57-1-60. Grants to finance, promote and advertise local tourist attractions
§ 57-1-65. General powers and duties with respect to marketing
§ 57-1-67. Planning and development district offices and directors
§ 57-1-68. Program of grants to finance and promote local economic development