Local tourism revenue and visitors seeking information were up in 2014, Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau director Bill Seratt announced during a National Tourism Week rally Tuesday at City Auditorium.

Revenue from tourism increased 5.5 percent from approximately $35 million in 2013 to $36.9 million in 2014, Seratt said. Hospitality tax revenue also increased 2.5 percent form $1.12 million to $1.15 million, he said.

“Over the last 10 years, the hospitality tax (revenue) in Warren County has seen a 31 percent increase,” Seratt said.

Hotel occupancy rates also increased from 54.9 percent 55.8 percent, he said, and more than 81,000 sought information at one of VCVB’s four information centers.

“It would be impossible to do what we do without the stakeholders; everything you do on the local level to support,” Seratt told a group of local and state tourism officials gathered for the rally.

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. also praised the efforts of tourism officials, calling them “the lifeline of the community.”

“It’s an understatement to say the vitality of this community is tourism,” Flaggs said.

Flaggs also said $76 million in construction projects —including $18 million for an extension of South Frontage Road — over the next few years would in the long run help boost tourism.

“What better way to sell a community and jumpstart the community before the construction starts,” Flaggs said of the rally.

State Rep. Alex Monsour mentioned at the need for a sportsplex, saying it could be used to increase the number of days visitors stay by giving the city the ability to host baseball and softball tournaments. Monsour also hinted at another project that he had in the works but would not give specifics.

“We want to make Vicksburg the No. 1 tourism spot in the state,” Monsour said.

Warren County ranks 8 out of 82 counties in travel and tourism spending and fifth in the number of tourism-related jobs, said Chris Chapman, manager of the Tourism Trade Bureau of the Mississippi Development Authority.

“You want to be No. 1? Well, you are very close,” she said.