Flaggs wins top award from Southeast Tourism Society

The Southeast Tourism Society awarded Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. of the City of Vicksburg with the Shining Example Award for Governmental Tourism Leadership Award which honors an elected official whose support or influence greatly enhanced the tourism industry.

Mayor Flaggs was nominated by Laura Beth Strickland, Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director, for his leadership in Vicksburg supporting tourism initiatives. This past year, Flaggs has kept tourism top-of-mind in growing and sustaining our city’s tourism assets.

Flaggs led the city’s effort to open Sports Force Parks on the Mississippi which has welcomed over 135,000 visitors. He helped keep the Vicksburg National Military Park, our top tourism attraction, open during the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history. The City of Vicksburg also invested in the development of Washington Street Park which hosts the Vicksburg Farmers Market and Second Saturday concerts as well as sponsored the Bill Ferris Mississippi Blues Trail Marker which was placed on May 28, 2019, as the 245th marker for the state.

“Mayor George Flaggs understands the return on investment for tourism and understands that it is pivotal to our city’s growth,” said Strickland. “Mayor Flaggs has and continues to be an advocate for tourism and is very well-deserving of this high recognition. His work stood out among the 14 member regions—13 states and the District of Columbia. This is proof of Vicksburg moving forward in the right direction as a destination.”

Past winners of the Shining Example Award for Governmental Tourism Leadership Award include Rep. Robert Aderholt (Alabama), Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (Louisiana), and Gov. Nathan Deal (Georgia).