COLUMBIA - This weekend is the first of two graduation weekends for 2021 University of Missouri graduates. Not only is graduation weekend a cause to celebrate for families, but with an influx of visitors the tourism industry may be celebrating too.
Megan McConachie, strategic communications manager at Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the travel and tourism industry has more impact on the city than one may think. The travel and tourism industry actually touches a lot of corners of our community, McConachie said, Of course you have hotels, you have restaurants, shops, everything from those that kind of come to mind pretty easily, to gas stations and big box stores.