Next time you miss the light due to traffic, these numbers might add a fresh perspective. New preliminary data from U.S. Travel and Tourism Economics estimates our state earned $27.5 billion (yes, that’s a “B”) in travel spending last year — a record-high for the state and increase of 14% from 2021.
Out of the 25 highest-ranked states, travel spending moved Tennessee to No. 11 in the nation, previously sitting at No. 14 in 2020. The leisure and hospitality industry is the state’s second-leading industry, employing 350,000+ residents and supplying $1.8 billion in state tax collections in 2022. Read: Nashville’s hefty contribution .
Stay tuned, new county-level data is expected to drop in August.