Local officials are hoping to capitalize on a proposed boost to Mississippi tourism funding.

Gov. Phil Bryant has proposed nearly tripling funding for promoting Mississippi tourism in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

“It is a huge economic engine for the state and for us to remain competitive and to tell our visitors of all of the new things and all of the traditional tings that we have through the state. This money is absolutely vital for us to remain competitive with our friendly neighbors,” said Bill Seratt, director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The state currently spends about $3 million to market tourism, but Bryant said when he unveiled his executive budget recommendation late last year that he wanted to add $5.1 million in additional tourism promotion money to level the playing field between Mississippi and its neighboring states.

By comparison, Louisiana spends $11 million a year marketing tourism, Seratt said.

“It would put us in a more competitive situation with our key figure markets,” he said.

The proposal would bring back a local match grant for advertising. Under the program, the state would foot the bill for a percentage of advertising costs.

“We could expand our advertising by essentially $50,000 a year,” Seratt said.

Mississippi tourism advertisements make about 200 million impressions with potential tourists annually, but with the additional funding the ads could make 541 million impressions, Seratt said.

Old Depot Museum Curator Dave Benway said any additional advertisement would be welcome.

“Somebody’s got to be able to have the money to advertise Vicksburg,” he said.

The museum is in the historic Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad depot that also houses the Vicksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau. The museum features hundreds of hand-built scale models, artifacts and a diorama of the battlefield of the Siege of Vicksburg.

“We’re the only one left in Vicksburg. There were three railroad depots,” Benway said.

Old Court House Museum curator Bubba Bolm said he also welcomes the additional exposure and would like to see some of the state funding going towards educating state tourism officials about the attractions Mississippi has to offer.

“They need to educate their people about what they are trying to sell. They are sales people,” Bolm said.

The Mississippi Development Authority says tourism supports 83,000 direct jobs and $400 million in annual tax revenue.