Tennessee Tourism Breaks $30B in Visitor Spending in 2023

Tennessee tourism generated a record $30.6 billion in direct visitor spending and saw 144 million visitors to the state in 2023, according to newly released data from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Tennessee’s direct visitor spending increased 6.2% in 2023. This follows two consecutive years of double-digit growth, driving Tennessee to a 125% recovery over 2019 pre-pandemic levels.  According to the Department, visitor spending generated $3.2 billion in direct state and local tax revenues in 2023. Without tourism, each Tennessee household would have to pay an additional $1,160 in taxes each year.