Tennessee Tourism Booming

Tennessee’s Tourism economy has grown 40% since 2018, nearly double the national growth rate of 22%, culminating in a record $32.5 billion in direct visitor spending in 2025. 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a cornerstone of Tennessee’s tourism success as the most visited national park in the country. During last fall’s federal government shutdown, a coalition of state, local, nonprofit and tribal partners came together to keep the Smokies open for 40 days. More than 2.4 million people visited during that timeframe, despite most national parks across the country being closed. 

Tourism is a powerful economic driver across all 95 counties, generating $3.3 billion in state and local tax revenue and saving each Tennessee household $1,180 annually on average.

The full 2025 Economic Impact on Travel Report and direct visitor spending data for all 95 counties will be released in September.  

All data is sourced from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tourism Economics, with national benchmarks provided by U.S. Travel Association.