How Sevier County helped draw record-breaking Tennessee tourism revenue

by: Naomi Hillmer

Posted: Jun 27, 2025 / 05:53 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 27, 2025 / 06:16 PM EDT

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee tourism broke their revenue record for the fourth year in a row, according to the latest report from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.  

The report, highlighting the economic impact of last year’s tourism visits, said the state generated over $31 billion in direct visitor spending with 147 million visits. Of all 95 counties in Tennessee, Sevier County currently ranks 3^rd in visitor spending in the state. 

“I’ve been in this industry in East Tennessee for 45 years and in that entire period of time Sevier County has always been the third largest generator of tourism revenue,” said Pigeon Forge Director of Tourism Leon Downey.  

Behind Davidson County in Nashville, and Shelby County in Memphis, Downey said it is their sister city partnerships that set them apart from other highly-visited areas.  

“We work so well together because we are all about tourism and that is our industry. You don’t see smokestacks. The only industry we have is tourism, and I think we do it very well,” said President of Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Chad Netherland.  

Between Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville, they brought in over $3 billion in 2023, generating tax revenue to be used at both the state and local levels.  

“Tourism really helps the residents as well. Gatlinburg has only 4,000 full-time residents. It helps lower their property taxes and other taxes because those taxes are then offset by the visitor,” said Netherland.  

In Pigeon Forge, Downey said that also means updates to local infrastructure.  

“The tax revenue that our guests bring in helps us immensely,” he said. “It’s just like the city is building a brand-new fire hall, a brand-new police department and within a year or so we’ll build a brand-new city hall complex.”  

With many attractions hitting big milestones, the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development expects even more visitors this year. 

“America’s most visited national park is seven miles down the road here, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You have Tennessee’s most ticketed attraction here in Dollywood, who just had their 40th anniversary this year. And the other thing that makes us different from Nashville and Memphis also is that we’re primarily a drive destination,” Downey said.  

Which also means they attract more repeat visitors and continue to create more revenue for both the county and the state. 

While the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development just released their numbers for 2024, a full report detailing each county will be available in September.

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