Report Shows Tourism Remains a Key Economic Driver
Lawrenceburg, Tenn. – Visitors to Lawrence County generated $32,356,943 in spending in 2024, representing a 7.95%increase from 2023, according to newly released data from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
“Tourism is establishing itself as one of Lawrence County’s most dynamic and rapidly expanding industries,” said Ryan Egly, President & CEO of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. “These numbers prove that visitors are not only discovering the beauty and hospitality of our community, but they’re also directly supporting our small businesses, creating jobs, and helping fund vital public services. Every dollar spent by a visitor ripples through our local economy, improving the quality of life for everyone who calls Lawrence County home.”
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Direct visitor spending in Lawrence County generated $1,953,422 in state tax revenue and $1,384,358 in local tax revenue.
- If it were not for state and local taxes generated by tourism, each household in Lawrence County would pay $200more in state and local taxes.
- Lawrence County ranked 46 among the 95 counties in Tennessee based on visitor spending.
Research conducted by Tourism Economics, commissioned by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. The data above highlights the impact of visitors within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Lawrence County.
“I’m so grateful to our amazing tourism and hospitality industry for these remarkable results,” said Mark Ezell, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “The Tennessee Tourism team has been able to leverage bigger tourism budgets to help grow visitor spending over 36% in these last six years. We are leading the nation as one of just a few states that are aggressively growing tax revenue from non-Tennessee residents to benefit all seven million Tennesseans.”
Statewide, Tennessee’s tourism industry broke records for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, generating $31.66 billion in direct visitor spending and welcoming 147 million visitors.
2024 Statewide Highlights:
- Tennessee saw a 12% year-over-year increase in international travel spending. This is notable because the report does not consider impacts from new direct flights from Iceland and Ireland added in Spring 2025. Those impacts will not appear until next year’s report.
- 74 out of 95 counties saw year-over-year growth.
- Tennessee direct visitor spending has grown 36.6% over 2018 compared to the US AVG growth of 17.4% per data from Tourism Economics.
Tourism is a powerful economic driver across all 95 counties, generating $3.3 billion in combined state and local tax revenue. Full details can be found in the statewide press release. Tourism boosts local economies, supports businesses and jobs, funds public services and creates a better quality of life for all Tennesseans.
The 2024 Economic Impact on Travel Report analyzes statewide spending and visitation from domestic and international travelers to Tennessee. The report includes methodology used to determine visitor spending, tax generation, job creation and more. The TN Travel Impact Interactive County Dashboard provides instant access to key metrics, statewide and by county, about the economic impact of travel to Tennessee. All data is sourced from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tourism Economics, with national benchmarks provided by U.S. Travel Association.
Looking ahead, there are many tourism highpoints for Tennessee that will make it easier to capture in-state and out-of-state visitor value:
- New direct flights from Icelandair and Aer Lingus to Nashville.
- New Allegiant Airlines service connecting Memphis to Knoxville.
- New Southwest Airlines service connecting Nashville to Knoxville.
- Expanded routes into Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson and Tri-Cities airports from out-of-state markets.
- Increased service from luxury coach options like Vonlane and Gray Line.
- Milestones like B.B. King’s 100th birthday in Memphis, Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary in Nashville, Dollywood’s 40th anniversary, the record-breaking MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol and IBMA in Chattanooga.
- Programs like the upcoming MICHELIN Guide to the American South will continue to elevate Tennessee’s culinary brand.
About Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties. TDTD’s global marketing efforts increase visitation to Tennessee, which boosts tax revenue, creates jobs and attracts new investment across the state. Tennessee is a global destination of choice offering visitors world-class music, live entertainment, family-friendly experiences, charming communities, innovative and classic culinary creations, renowned scenic beauty and outdoor adventure—all centered at the crossroads of rich history and unrivaled hospitality. Vacations “sound perfect” in Tennessee. Visit TNvacation.com and follow @TNvacation on social media for travel inspiration.
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