Mississippi Gulf Coast Attractions Association selects tourism award recipient

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Attractions Association recognized Woody Bailey as the recipient of the organization’s annual ‘Don Jacobs Tourism Award.’

Woody Bailey is the vice chair and executive director of Cruisin’ the Coast. Cruisin’ the Coast began in 1996 as a festival to celebrate antique, classic, and hot rod vehicles, nostalgic music, and related events.

Cruisin’ the Coast has turned into America’s largest block party and the biggest special event in the state of Mississippi.

Bailey tells News 25 about the importance of tourism. “We have the perfect venue for it. We have the water. We have the beaches. I don’t think we promote Ship Island enough, our jewels out there. We just have so many things and like I say to the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we got friendly folks.”

At this year’s Cruisin’ the Coast, 9,496 registered vehicles participated from 45 states and Canada to enjoy the Mississippi Gulf Coast.