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Tourism metrics tick up in Jefferson Davis Parish; marketing report shows large social reach
Summary
Director Carter Prejean reported year-over-year increases in visitor counts and lodging nights for July and August 2025, higher Gator Chateau sales in 2025 compared with 2024, and an Aug. 2025 sales tax payment of $11,610.79; marketing staff reported social media views ranging from about 7,600 to 358,800.
The Jefferson Davis Parish Tourist Commission reviewed tourism and sales figures at its Sept. 9 meeting, with Director Carter Prejean and Marketing/Communications Director Macey Cormier highlighting year-over-year gains and outreach activity.
Prejean presented visitor and lodging metrics comparing July and August 2024 with July and August 2025: visitors rose from 6,106 to 8,450 in July and from 3,916 to 4,363 in August; billboard-driven visits rose from 1,814 to 2,698 in July and from 1,082 to 1,465 in August; nights spent in Jefferson Davis Parish increased from 3,478 to 8,954 in July and from 1,850 to 6,392 in August. Gator Chateau sales were listed as $14,342.55 for Aug. 2025 and $23,157.57 for July 2025, compared with $9,855.00 (Aug. 2024) and $14,296.50 (July 2024). The minutes record sales tax collections for August 2025 (paid in September 2025) of $11,610.79.
Cormier reviewed social media statistics from Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, reporting platform view counts ranging from about 7,587 to 358,792. Prejean said staff attended the LTA Travel Summit in Lake Charles Aug. 26–28, partnered with Visit Lake Charles on a JDP familiarization tour that included a LOT representative from India, presented a check to McNeese supporting a future hospitality program, and promoted the Sept. 5–6 rodeo and the Nov. 1 Fall Festival. The commission announced the next regular meeting for noon on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, and set a deadline of Dec. 31, 2025, for ethics online training.
The figures and partnership activities were presented as staff reports; no additional formal motions or decisions on funding were recorded in the minutes.
