For those of us who live in Warren County and Vicksburg, we see everyday the importance tourism plays in the local economy.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. was correct when he said “our whole economy is centered around tourism” during a reception and press conference Wednesday recognizing National Travel & Tourism Week at the Welcome Center on Washington Street.

The numbers justify his statement.

•$912,000 per year in restaurant taxes

•$798,000 per year in hotel taxes

•3,952 direct tourism jobs

•$204 million in visitor spending

•89,300 visitors to the welcome center

•436,000 visitors to the Vicksburg National Military Park

•100 docked riverboats in 2017

“We have people from all 50 states joining in our military park and the city of Vicksburg,” Flaggs said. “We have about 25 (foreign) countries represented each year to come to see the historic city of Vicksburg and to see Mississippi.”

We need to keep those people — and more — coming to see and enjoy our great city. That means making our city more inviting and that is up to each of us and not just the responsibility of the people we have elected or appointed.

Certainly our local government should improve the fight against crime, attract more industry with higher paying wages, provide infrastructure without a drastic increase in taxes and improve our education system. Those items and others are being worked on and addressed.

But how about if each of us try to focus more on the positives of why we make Vicksburg our home? There are so many more reasons why Vicksburg is a great place to live than there are negatives and it’s time we let those who come visit or are considering a visit know this is a wonderful historic city.