Page 79 - Delaware 222 - 2025

TOURISM
Scott Thomas
Southern Delaware
Tourism
Every year, Delaware’s beaches draw
scores of visitors, and the season
grows. For the past 16 years, Southern
Delaware Tourism Executive Director
Scott Th omas has worked to lift the
image not only of Delaware’s coastal
towns, but also attractions in Western
Sussex County like the Nanticoke River
and the Delaware Botanic Gardens.
During his tenure, Th omas has worked
with several advertising campaigns
to draw people back to the beach in
2020. Tourism is a $2.7 billion industry
in Sussex County and supports 23,000
jobs, and Th omas collaborates with
several businesses and hoteliers to
continue to keep the industry strong.
Right now, he is working to develop the
“Culinary Coast” reputation that shines
a light on farm-to-table and rock star
chefs in the county.
Jessica Welch
Delaware Tourism
Office
Th e First State’s tourism industry
contributed $4 billion in gross
domestic product in 2021 and
supported 47,760 employees in the
state. As the chief marketer for the
state, Jessica Welch leads the way in
telling Delaware’s story to the nation.
As a lifelong Delawarean who has
lived in all three counties, Welch
was appointed in 2022, right when
Delaware’s visibility continues to fl y
high thanks to President Joe Biden’s
continued trips home and the PGA
Tour BMW Championship that brought
thousands of people to Wilmington.
She is tasked with launching marketing
campaigns and year-round eff orts
to bring sports events, which in turn
support local businesses.
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DelawareBusinessTimes.com | DELAWARE 222 77
DelawareBusinessTimes.com | DELAWARE 222 77