The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial has helped drive tourism up nearly 19 percent from last year, the state secretary of culture, recreation and tourism said.

Phillip J. Jones cited tourism industry figures that more than 12 million people visited the state during the first half of 2003, about 2 million more than in the same period last year.

Events and exhibitions for the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial are a major reason, he says in a news release. "The national and international media exposure we have garnered as a result of our bicentennial marketing campaign is phenomenal."

Other factors include Mardi Gras, new cruise lines and the Audubon Golf Trail, he said.

Louisiana had the nation's 10th largest percentage increase in tourism and now is No. 2 among Southern states according to the Travel Industry Association of America, Jones said. Nationwide, he said, visitation was up 0.4 of a percent for the first two quarters of 2003.

Highlights of the bicentennial celebration include Jefferson's America, Napoleon's France at NOMA in New Orleans, the Heart of Spain Exhibit in Alexandria and Josephine in Baton Rouge. Other events such as operas, musicals, art exhibits, festivals and more will commemorate this historic occasion. Closing ceremonies featuring a re-enactment of the Louisiana Purchase signing are slated for Dec. 20 at the Cabildo in New Orleans.

The statewide initiative is expected to boost 2003 visitation figures to 25 million with a resulting $9 billion-plus economic impact.

Over the past seven years, the economic impact of traveler spending in Louisiana has risen steadily from $6.5 billion to last year's estimated $9.1 billion.