Louisiana wins “State of the Year” for American tourism at 2025 JRNY Awards

The Bayou State Swept the Competition

A panel of British travel experts just named Louisiana the best state for tourism in America.

At the 2025 JRNY America Awards in London this October, the Bayou State took home three of eleven awards, more than any other U. S. destination. New Orleans won Best Food City.

A brand-new train route won Best New Tourism Initiative. And the state itself claimed the top prize: State of the Year.

The timing matters, because Louisiana is in the middle of a tourism surge that shows no signs of slowing down.

A UK Travel Magazine Ranks American Destinations

The JRNY America Awards celebrate the best in American tourism, recognizing destinations, experiences, and organizations that make exploring the United States unforgettable.

Each award honors innovation, creativity, and passion within the travel industry.

The awards feature 11 categories judged by a panel of travel industry experts, including authors, editors, tour operators, destination managers, and sustainability professionals.

JRNY magazine, based in the United Kingdom, recently won its second consecutive Consumer Publication of the Year title at the World Travel Awards.

Louisiana Wins State of the Year

According to the JRNY America Awards committee, the State of the Year award honors destinations that demonstrate excellence in tourism through innovation, sustainability, and visitor satisfaction.

Louisiana’s selection reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting authentic culture, exceptional hospitality, and one-of-a-kind experiences across every region of the state.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, the state’s top tourism official, praised the recognition.

“International travelers are discovering that Louisiana offers everything they’re looking for: incredible food, music, and history, all at an unbeatable value,” he said.

New Orleans Takes Best Food City

The city’s Cajun and Creole cuisine earned international recognition from the judges. New Orleans offers tourists a one-of-a-kind food experience, from spicy Cajun dishes to Creole delights.

The city has built its reputation on flavors you cannot find anywhere else. Louisiana is celebrating its unique cuisine during the Year of Food throughout 2025.

From crawfish étouffée to shrimp creole, gumbo, and beignets, each dish has its own flavor that’s as rich and varied as Louisiana’s cultural roots.

A New Train Brings Rail Back to the Gulf Coast

The Mardi Gras Service is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak along the Gulf Coast.

The service consists of two daily round trips between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Service began on August 18, 2025. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated critical rail infrastructure along the Gulf Coast, halting passenger rail service in the region.

The Mardi Gras route marks the return of passenger trains after nearly 20 years.

30,000 Passengers in Three Months

When Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service launched this summer, every seat was booked. Nearly three months later, the demand shows no signs of slowing down.

As of late October, almost 30,000 passengers have boarded the train between New Orleans and Mobile, more than double the original estimate. Adult coach fares end-to-end start at $15 each way, less for shorter distances.

Amtrak added a third train car to accommodate football fans traveling to New Orleans for Saints home games, creating 60 additional seats that have sold out multiple weekends.

Louisiana Welcomed 44.5 Million Visitors in 2024

Louisiana welcomed 44. 5 million domestic and international visitors to the state in 2024.

Total visitation increased by 1. 5 million people over 2023.

Louisiana generated $18. 5 billion in domestic and international visitor spending in 2024, a 6% increase over 2023.

Direct spending by domestic and international travelers in Louisiana averaged $50. 8 million a day.

That breaks down to $2. 1 million an hour.

New Orleans Hits a Post-COVID Milestone

New Orleans drew 19. 08 million visitors who spent $10.4 billion in 2024. That marks the first time the city crossed the 19 million threshold since before the pandemic.

In addition to spikes in leisure travel, New Orleans ranked third in the nation as a top convention destination, surpassing cities like Chicago and Las Vegas.

Meetings and conventions form a foundational layer of New Orleans’ travel economy, contributing more than $2 billion in direct spending annually.

Over 400 Festivals Happen Every Year

Louisiana offers 17 scenic trails and byways featuring storied paths through natural beauty, rich history and authentic small towns.

You can experience Louisiana’s culture through one of the 400-plus festivals showcased throughout the year.

Iconic festivals celebrate crops like strawberries, oysters, peaches, and music genres such as blues, zydeco, and Cajun. The state also has 21 state parks for hiking, kayaking, and swamp tours.

Every Region Offers Something Different

South Louisiana is home to Cajuns, descendants of 18th-century Acadian exiles from what are now Canada’s Maritime Provinces.

In the greater New Orleans area, there are many swamp tour options in communities such as Marrero, Westwego, Braithwaite, Lafitte, Des Allemands and Laplace.

Natchitoches is a charming riverfront town and Louisiana’s oldest permanent settlement, even older than New Orleans.

In the northwest, Shreveport-Bossier offers casinos, live music, and the Louisiana State Fair each fall.

Tourism Is the States Fourth Largest Employer

Tourism supported 224,600 leisure and hospitality jobs statewide, remaining the 4th largest employer in the state.

A total of $2 billion of state and local tax revenues was generated by travel and tourism activities in Louisiana in 2024, which resulted in a 4% increase over 2023.

Each household in Louisiana would need to be taxed an additional $1,135 to replace the visitor-generated taxes received by Louisiana state and local governments.

The World Is Taking Notice

Louisiana has spent decades telling visitors it has something no other state can offer. Now international judges have agreed.

The JRNY awards put the state on the same stage as every other American destination and sent it home with more hardware than anyone else.

Louisiana’s selection reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting authentic culture, exceptional hospitality, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

The food, the music, the swamps, and the festivals are all still here. The difference now is that more people than ever are coming to find them.

Visiting Louisiana

New Orleans anchors most trips, but the state rewards exploration.

Start in the French Quarter for jazz clubs, beignets at Café Du Monde, and the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the country. Take a swamp tour from Lafitte or Breaux Bridge to see alligators up close.

Drive the Great River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge to tour antebellum plantations. Lafayette is the heart of Cajun Country, with dance halls, boudin, and crawfish boils.

Natchitoches, the state’s oldest town, has a 33-block historic district on the Cane River. Lake Charles offers casinos and the 207-mile Creole Nature Trail through marshes and beaches.

The new Amtrak Mardi Gras Service runs twice daily from New Orleans to Mobile with stops in Biloxi, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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