Louisiana saw a 36% increase in international visitors from 2014 to 2015, and state tourism officials believe the Bayou State is poised for another significant increase in overseas travelers thanks to new direct flights to New Orleans from London, Germany and Honduras.
To seize on the opportunities presented by the direct flights, nearly 25 convention and visitors bureaus and attractions in Louisiana joined the state Office of Tourism in promoting Louisiana to international and U.S. tour operators at 2016 Travel South USA International Showcase in Atlanta.
The showcase, which took place on Nov. 29-30, primarily focuses on international travelers interested in visiting the southeastern United States.
“The partnerships the state has with our CVBs and tourism commissions are crucial,” says Kyle Edmiston, the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s assistant secretary. “There are 16 such organizations that partner with the state at the international level. They are just as focused on the goal and purpose of increasing international visitation to our state. Those partnerships are showing tremendous success.”
The 36% increase from 2014 to 2015 equated to 137,000 more overseas tourists coming to Louisiana, which ranked second among all states for international tourism growth during the year.
“The goal is to utilize our partnerships to see this number continue to rise as we continue to market Louisiana as an exciting destination for international visitors to experience and explore,” says Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. “The reason—international visitors stay longer and on average spend more money.”
Over the next three years, an additional 8.8 million international visitors are expected to travel to the U.S., spending $28 million, according to the state’s tourism office. By 2018, Louisiana is projected to attract one million additional international visitors, with an estimated direct economic impact of $1.7 billion.
