MJAA, Visit Jackson Unveil 'Passport' to Area Attractions, Restaurants
October 29, 2020
The Metro Jackson Attractions Association, in partnership with Visit Jackson, has launched a new incentive for visitors to explore the City With Soul.
The group, made of member attractions, restaurants, retailers and event planners across the area, unveiled the Metro Jackson Passport on Thursday.
The small, bound book – the size of a traveler’s passport – invites visitors and locals alike to visit landmarks of the city, collecting stamps from participating members. Information within the passport gives a glimpse of locations, descriptions and contact information for several local attractions and restaurants. The passport is free.
Once at least six stamps are collected, the passport can be redeemed at the JXN Welcome Center (308 E. Pearl Street downtown), Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., to claim a City With Soul t-shirt. Out-of-town visitors can also redeem passports by mail if time doesn’t permit an in-person redemption.
The passport, the brainchild of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Director of Community Relations and Marketing Andrea Patterson, was inspired by her trips to Louisville, KY and a similar program there.
“While traveling to different cities with my family and friends, I’ve seen firsthand how beneficial a passport program can be to not just the traveler but also to the participating organizations,” Patterson said. “Jackson is full of world-renowned museums, destination shopping, exquisite hotels and restaurants that are second to none. The Metro Jackson Passport… brings these destinations together in a new and exciting way.”
The launch of the free Passport comes when the tourism industry has been severely affected by the current global pandemic and hopes to boost the attendance and revenues of industry partners involved in the project.
“Visit Jackson is proud to be part of such a brilliant tourism product, and we will continue to represent Jackson as a whole and all of its metro area partners,” said Kim Lewis, Visit Jackson Communications and Destination Development Manager.
MJAA Board President Susan Branson thanked all parties involved.
“A project of this scope would not have been possible without the support of industry partners,” she said. “Visit Jackson has given us financial backing and design assistance. We are grateful they helped make this project a reality. “
The free Passport will be available at State Welcome Centers, the JXN Welcome Center, and participating attractions, restaurants and retailers in Jackson including:
COFO Civil Rights Education Center
Homewood Suites by Hilton Fondren Medical District
International Museum of Muslim Cultures
MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum
Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University
Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center
Locations with the asterisk are not stampable.
About Visit Jackson
Visit Jackson is the official destination leadership organization for the city of Jackson. The bureau serves Jackson by positively impacting the city’s economy through recruitment and procurement of meetings and tourism activities.
Created in 1983, Visit Jackson acts as a quasi-independent government agency reauthorized by the state legislature and governed by an independently appointed board of directors with members representing the hotel, restaurant, attraction, art, and education sectors.
Media Contact: Kim Lewis – klewis@visitjackson.com or 601.354.2553 for interviews, statements and story ideas.