More than 300 community leaders and business operators packed the Palace Theater late last month to hear Tennessee Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell talk about the millions of dollars flowing into Tennessee as a result of visitor spending.
Crossville/Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce Director of Tourism P.J. Barnes Jr. served as emcee of the Tourism Summit, which featured a video by Stuart Deming of XPLOR Nashville featuring attractions amenities found in Cumberland County.
“How does tourism impact you?” Ezell asked the crowd. “You have the second-lowest property tax, and there is a reason. “There is a $776 savings [annually] on property taxes, and that is because of tourism.”
This savings is a result of hotel/motel and sales taxes paid by visitors, along with money spent at golfing, Cumberland County Playhouse, natural spots like Cumberland Mountain State Park, Ozone Falls, Black Mountain and the Cumberland Trail linear park, a gateway to Big South Fork and local shops, business and dining.
In addition, seasonal and full-time jobs are created by the influx of visitors, Ezell noted.
Ezell added, Crossville and Cumberland County government officials are right in promotion, marketing and partnerships making Cumberland County a destination.
The goal is to get visitors to come back, bring families, tell friends, spend money and go home.
It was noted by Ezell that tourism is a major economic driver of the Crossville area, generating $212.4 million annually in “direct expenditures.”
Using a PowerPoint program, Ezell discussed facts and figures supporting the idea of the more a community invests in tourism, the more financial benefit is received.
A spin-off benefit to tourism development, in addition to supporting local shops and businesses and job creation, is grant funding. The five-year action plan focused on downtown revitalization will continue to enhance Crossville as a tourism destination.
Statewide, the latest in 2024 direct-visitor spending by an estimated 147 visitors supports more than 194,000 jobs and generates $3.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. Ezell predicted with continued partnerships of tourism promotion, those figures grow annually and will continue to grow.
Prior to the general meeting, a “VIP” meeting was held with local leaders who heard presentations from Ezell, Barnes and Deming.
Ezell, a seventh-generation Tennessean and former head of the family business, Purity Dairies, talked about hearing about tourism impact and thinking, “That’s nice.”
He really didn’t begin to understand the true impact tourism has on communities across the state until he got involved in state government after the dairy sold.
When his friend, Gov. Bill Lee, asked him to serve in the tourism office, he agreed and quickly learned about tourism promotion. That led him to being named tourism commissioner.
At the conclusion of Ezell’s presentation, XPLR/Nashville premiered a new 30-minute video featuring tourism spots to visit in Cumberland County.
The video was received with a rousing round of applause as it featured many scenic areas, golfing venues, dining experiences and local shops.
Barnes repeated a quip he has said repeatedly as director of tourism for the Chamber.
“My job is to get visitors to come, have a great experience, spend money, and go home.”
That is why community leaders are placing renewed interest in tourism.