With a payroll of $1.72 billion spread among 90,000 employees, tourism is one of the top five industries in Mississippi.

And while money spent by tourists is still down since Hurricane Katrina, the state is continuing to market itself as one of the nation's premier destinations, according to Mississippi tourism director, Craig Ray. he spoke to a group in Neshoba County Wednesday.

Mississippi is also working on attracting more international tourists as well. Ray said it is becoming the fifth choice for travel in the United States, behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and, of course, Disney World. And one of the biggest draws for the tourists, both foreign and domestic, is golf.

Golf brought in about $200 million last year, up four times as much as it had been only three years earlier. Philadelphia and Neshoba County play a large role in the state's tourism, bringing in almost $30 million.

Ray also said that the state is trying to recruit Six Flags to relocate its theme park from New Orleans to Mississippi.