FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Visitor spending in Williamson County grew to an all-time high of $452.59 million in 2017, a 5.9 percent increase over 2016’s then record-setting visitor expenditures. Williamson County remains ranked sixth among Tennessee’s 95 counties for visitor spending and these economic impact accomplishments come just weeks after Visit Franklin announced that Williamson County welcomed a record-breaking 1.51 visitors in 2017.
“The convention and visitors bureau has worked closely with our hospitality partners and local officials, to continue making Franklin and all the communities of Williamson County a premier destination to visit because we know the important impact it has on our community,” said Visit Franklin President & CEO Ellie Westman Chin. “We have a unique variety of communities and attractions that allows our visitors to not only experience the historic stories and authentic southern culture that have been here for generations but it also inspires them to create their own stories and family memories that keep them returning year-after-year.”
State and local tax collections from tourism-related spending in the county during 2017 generated a total of $27.38 million in state and $9.31 million in local tax revenues, increases of 4.7 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively. Tourism-related job growth in the county also grew, increasing 2.6 percent to 3,630 tourism-related jobs in Williamson County.
“In addition to the economic impact, I’m very proud to see the number of people employed by the hospitality industry continue to grow in Williamson County,” added Westman Chin. “With new attractions, restaurants, and hotels on the horizon and partnerships with Columbia State’s hospitality degree program, this vital part of our industry is primed to continue growing for years to come.”
The Williamson County Convention & Visitor Bureau operates from a percentage of the lodging taxes collected from visitors by the local hotels. Those collections are then reinvested in sales and marketing efforts to attract the world to Williamson County for leisure travel, as well as sports, meetings and group business.
Economic impact information is determined by the U.S. Travel Association and was distributed by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development as part of a state-wide announcement that travel in Tennessee as a whole achieved a record high of $20.7 billion in 2017.
ABOUT THE WCCVB The Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB) is the official destination marketing organization for Franklin and the unique communities of Williamson County, Tennessee. The WCCVB stimulates economic growth through the promotion of travel and tourism assets such as history, music, attractions, entertainment, the arts, and events to visitors from around the world. For information on Franklin and Williamson County, visit us on the web at VisitFranklin.com.
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Matt is the guy who is always ready to share a story with you.
With a passion for new experiences, taking the back roads, and seeing everything possible, Matt serves as Visit Franklin's Senior Director of Public Relations connecting the many unique stories in the Franklin community with great journalists and storytellers worldwide. When not pitching a story idea to travel writers, you’ll likely find him working as a photographer on the sidelines of college and professional sports events across the Southeast.