LT. GOVERNOR NUNGESSER KICKS OFF STATE TOUR FOR NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK

BATON ROUGE, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism announced today that Louisiana’s tourism industry continued its upward momentum in 2025, with increases in both visitation and visitor spending.

Lt. Governor Nungesser will travel across the state next week as part of National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), recognizing the vital role tourism plays in driving Louisiana’s economy, supporting jobs, celebrating culture, and strengthening communities. This year’s national theme from the U.S. Travel Association is “Postmarked: Essential.”

According to research from MMGY Global, Louisiana welcomed 45 million domestic and international visitors in 2025, an increase of nearly 254,000 travelers over 2024. Visitor spending reached $19.5 billion, up $1 billion from the previous year, representing a 5.4% increase.

Employment in Louisiana’s tourism and hospitality sector remained strong, with 225,600 jobs statewide in 2025, maintaining its position as the state’s fourth-largest industry.

“It’s encouraging to see our tourism numbers continue to grow, especially with shifting trends impacting other travel markets across the country,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Our continued increases show more people are choosing Louisiana and spending more while they’re here. That means jobs, stronger local businesses, and more opportunities for our communities. We’re not slowing down. We are building on this momentum for 2026 as Louisiana plays a special role celebrating our country’s 250th birthday.”

As part of the America250 initiative, Louisiana will host several major events and exhibitions. New Orleans will serve as the first U.S. port of call for an international fleet of tall ships, arriving at the Port of New Orleans from May 28 to June 1 for a national maritime celebration along the Mississippi River.

In Baton Rouge, visitors have a rare opportunity to view the original Louisiana Purchase agreement signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, currently on display at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol through July 11.

During National Travel & Tourism Week, Lt. Governor Nungesser will visit destinations across the state to highlight local tourism partners, recognize industry leaders, and promote upcoming events. Below is a schedule of those events:

Monday, May 4, 2026

Slidell I-10 Welcome Center
41300 Crawford Landing Road
Slidell, LA
10 a.m.

Northshore Tourism Luncheon
Southern Hotel
428 E. Boston Street
Covington, LA
11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Cajun Coast Tourism Luncheon
Cajun Coast Welcome Center
900 Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard
Morgan City, LA
11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Lafayette Travel Tourism Breakfast
Moncus Park
2913 Johnston Street
Lafayette, LA
9 a.m.

Alexandria/Pineville Tourism Luncheon
Pineville Community Center
708 Main Street
Pineville, LA
12 p.m.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Ruston Tourism Breakfast
Davison Athletics Complex
1454 W. Alabama Avenue
Ruston, LA
8:30 a.m.

Tangipahoa Tourism Celebration
Lighthouse Coastal Brasserie
116 W. Thomas Street
Hammond, LA
3 p.m.

Friday, May 8, 2026

New Orleans & Co. Tourism Luncheon
Hyatt Regency
601 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA
11 a.m.

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