Tourist Development Dashboard
Mission:
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is to motivate travel to and within Tennessee by inspiring enjoyment, creating memories, producing a desire to return and establishing key long-term relationships that result in visitors becoming residents.
Promise:
The promise of Tennessee – the home of the blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, rockabilly, soul and rock ‘n’ roll – is to be the global destination of choice. To deliver an unparalleled experience of beauty, history and family adventure, infused with music that creates a vacation that is The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.
Last Updated: October 2022
Sources: Department of Tourist Development, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Department of Revenue, U.S. Travel Association, D.K. Shifflet & Associates, Tourism Economics, Smith Travel Research
Tennessee Music Pathways
Tennessee Music Pathways kicked off in late summer 2018 with more than 200 locations for statues, murals, attractions, historical markers, and experiences identifying birthplaces, resting places, hometowns and locations of Tennessee’s musical pioneers and legends. Explore the Pathways.
Colorblindless Viewfinders
The Department of Tourist Development created the first scenic viewers outfitted with specialty lenses designed to help alleviate red-green color blindness so people can experience the true colors of fall for the first time in Tennessee at 13 different locations statewide. See the Beauty.
U.S. Civil Rights Trail
In February 2018, the department officially dedicated 10 sites in Tennessee as part of the newly launched U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The trail is a collection of 100 sites in 14 Southern states consisting of churches, courthouses, schools, museums and other historical landmarks. Discover the Trail.
Kid Reviewed
In summer 2019, Tourist Development partnered with 30 attractions across the state to prove where kids have the most fun. The “Kid Reviewed” campaign introduced wearable technology called the Laugh Tracker and deployed pint-sized experts across the state to gather more than two million data points and honest reviews from the kids themselves. See the proof.
“Country Music” Passport
Following the 2019 debut of Ken Burns’ PBS documentary “Country Music,” Tourist Development created a special “Country Music” Passport to help visitors discover 22 Tennessee destinations as featured in the 16.5-hour documentary. The passport was included in the 2020 Tennessee Vacation Guide, and available at any of 16 Tennessee Welcome Centers. Visitors can use the passport to guide their own country music pilgrimage along the Tennessee Music Pathways route and earn commemorative prizes. Walk in the footsteps.
Tennessee Vacation Guide
Distributed to more than 500,000 visitors annually, the Tennessee Vacation Guide highlights the state’s scenic beauty, thriving urban cities, charming small towns, music, history, creative spirit and culinary excellence. For the first time, the 2020 guide features three distinct covers that showcase the breadth of picturesque landscapes across the state, including treasures like Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tiptonville, Machine Falls at Short Springs Natural Area in Tullahoma and Jane Bald at Roan Mountain in Carter County. Get your free guide.