Tourism is important to the city of Vicksburg and this week the work of many in the industry will be highlighted.

National Travel and Tourism Week began Sunday and will go through Saturday nationwide.

“It’s really kind of recognizing all the people in the industry and what they do to bring visitors to the community,” said Laura Beth Strickland, Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau communications manager.

Locally, the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau is celebrating by hosting a Tourism Rally at the Vicksburg Convention Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

“It’s open to the public, but its more geared toward our tourism partners — anybody who is in the tourism industry,” Strickland said.

Interim director of Visit Mississippi Daron Wilson will speak at the rally. Strickland said he will give an update on the work Visit Mississippi is doing this year in tourism. The VCVB marketing team will also be at the rally to present a report on the visitation numbers in Vicksburg over the last year and an update on marketing and sales locally.

“Tourism is a vital part of the economy of Warren County,” said Bill Seratt, executive director of the VCVB. “We want to celebrate Vicksburg’s tourism industry and give reports on what is going on at their local tourism office. We hope everyone will come out and wear red in support of tourism in Vicksburg.”

Attendees are encouraged to wear red because it is the designated color for tourism week.

“That’s the nationwide U.S. Travel Association, they encourage everybody to wear red during National Tourism Week,” Strickland said.

The national week recognizing tourism has been held the first week of May since 1984.

Multiple organizations and businesses from the tourism sector will set up shop in the Mississippi Welcome Center in Vicksburg throughout the week to show what the state has to offer tourists.

“It’ll give them a chance to talk to some of the people that are coming through our state welcome center and tell them about their product,” Strickland said.

Scheduled booths at the Welcome Center include:

Monday, May 2: Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau, Outlets at Vicksburg.

Tuesday, May 3: Mayor George Flaggs Jr., La Quinta Inn & Suites, Lofts at First National, 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, Rowdy’s, Grand Gulf Military Park, Port Gibson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Visitor Center, Visit Natchez and Richard McComas — known as the Beatles Guy.

Wednesday, May 4: Lofts at First National, 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, Clinton Visitor Center.

Thursday, May 5: Lofts at First National, 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, Lady Luck Hotel, Grand Gulf Military Park, Port Gibson Chamber of Commerce, Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Friday, May 6: Lofts at First National, 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, Courtyard by Marriott, Miss Vicksburg Katie Busby, Virginia’s Dulcimers Senior Strummers.

Saturday, May 7: Greenville/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For more information, call 601-636-9421 or email laurabeth@visitvicksburg.com.