The economic impact of tourism on Tennessee is significant, with a report by WATE 6 On Your Side demonstrating a surge in travel spending to $30.6 billion in 2023. This growth reflects a 6.2 percent increase from the previous year, as the state saw a substantial recovery, reaching 125 percent over the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. The report released by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) also highlights the state's success in attracting a whopping 144 million visitors.

Tourism 'soaring' in Tennessee with 2023 seeing $30.6 billion in travel spending https://t.co/tUlRs2KP4E

— WATE 6 On Your Side (@6News) July 23, 2024

Each day of 2023, visitors poured an average of $84 million into Tennessee's economy and the resulting tax revenue derived from tourism was measured at $3.2 billion which includes both state and local revenues, as tourism continues to be a pillar of the state's financial health, according to WREG News. Gov. Bill Lee lauded the tourism industry’s growth stating, “Tourism boosts local economies, supports businesses and jobs, funds public services and creates a better quality of life for all Tennesseans.”

The inflow of tourist dollars not only bolsters the state's finances but also substantially supports its workforce, with the industry sustaining 191,522 direct jobs, which equates to one in every 24 jobs within the state. The employment opportunities fostered by the tourism sector have also nearly fully bounced back to pre-pandemic numbers, now at 98 percent of the levels witnessed in 2019.

Additional insights into the distribution of this economic boom across Tennessee's 95 counties will be further detailed in the full 2023 Economic Impact on Travel Report slated for release in August. This data will provide a comprehensive view of how tourism has permeated local economies and reinforced community well-being through direct visitor spending.