According to Tourism Economics, Tennessee has seen the highest growth rate for International Arrivals in the U-S.  The findings were shared at IPW at Denver last week.

Geoff Lacher, senior economist at Tourism Economics says, “We estimate 11% growth in international arrivals for Tennessee, which was the highest state growth rate in the entire United States.”

Here in Campbell County, Mayor E.L. Morton explains, “Our Team at the Chamber and Tourism Offices are doing a tremendous job promoting our tourism offerings. I am proud to have ensured increased funding for tourism by asking the Commission to remove rent from the Chamber after having paid for the building they occupy in 2014. That created nearly $11,000 annually for promotion. The Commission also approved my recommendation to fund $3,000 annually to join the Retire Tennessee program that creates face to face marketing of our retirement community in cities like New York and Chicago. Andy Wallace additionally represented Campbell County in the State visit to Japan in 2016 meeting with Matix Corporation Leadership alongside Randy Boyd, former Commissioner for Tennessee Economic and Community Development and current candidate for Governor. Our tourism business owners have done their part improving properties, adding attractions, protecting our environment and floating homes, alongside my office, which are a unique offering many have never experienced.”

“Every day we work to showcase the wonderful assets of Tennessee to the rest of nation and the world,” said Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Our beauty, culture, history, food experiences, family opportunities and of course the music that makes up the Soundtrack of America, are resonating with visitors and these numbers confirm that.”

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“Another key component to expanding our offerings internationally is our Campbell County Airport, which hosts international visitors, Major League Baseball Stars, and corporate executives from Germany, Japan and many other countries,” said Morton.  He goes on to say that the expanded jet fuel farm, world class hangar facilities and recently sealed runway are reasons people to choose our community for leisure and business at an increasing rate.

“Mixing industry with promotion is something we are seeing more and more. An example is Telos Corporation acquiring the Grundig Academy, a world renowned automotive manufacturing academy hosting advanced manufacturing leaders and innovators from around the world in Ridgewood, Tennessee,” Morton adds. Last September, a team of six instructors from Germany taught classes on the technology that exists in Ridgewood and very few other places in the world to leaders from The Netherlands, Germany, Japan, China, South America, Canada, Mexico, Detroit, Alabama, Kentucky and California. Your Mayor’s office team, alongside the Town of Caryville, our Tourism and Chamber offices partnered to make this training event a business success, but also make it an international tourism impact.

Morton points out, “I am proud to serve as Governor Haslam’s sole Rural Tourism representative on his hand-picked Tourism advisory committee.”  Working together at Chamber, local, state, federal and international government levels is proving to be a winning solution in Campbell County and across Tennessee.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/30/3018-6AM)