Union City, Tenn.–Discovery Park of America President and CEO Scott Williams has been selected to serve on the Tennessee Tourism Committee by Mark Ezell, the new commissioner of the Department of Tourist Development for the state of Tennessee.
Williams attended his first committee meeting on April 11 at the Tennessee’s Executive Residence, the home of Governor Bill Lee in Nashville where Governor Lee addressed those at the meeting.
“For those of us who call Northwest Tennessee home, it’s great to know we have a governor who appreciates and supports those of us in rural communities,” said Williams. “And that extends to those of us in regions like this one that attracts visitors from around the world. Governor Lee made it a point to mention he wants to support us in growing tourism revenue in our rural communities as well as those in Tennessee’s cornerstone tourism areas.”
The state committee is chaired by Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc., and co-chaired by: Leon Downey, Executive Director, Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism; Jack Soden, president and CEO, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.; and Ezell.
The mission of the committee is to assist the state and industry in contributing to Tennessee’s growth as one of the top U.S. destinations in terms of total travel expenditures. Tourism in Tennessee enhances the state’s economic vitality through job creation, increased tax revenues and new investments.
The committee is made up of leaders from hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers, hotels, museums and attractions from throughout the state.
Last year, Tennessee announced an all-time record in 2017 by reaching $20.7 billion in visitor spending.
Tourism topped $1 billion in state and local sales tax revenue for the 12th consecutive year – reaching $1.8 billion. Tourism also generated 184,300 jobs for Tennesseans, a 3.1 percent growth year over year.
With the addition of Discovery Park of America to the Reelfoot Lake region and the construction of three new hotels next door by Graham Properties, tourism in Northwest Tennessee is expected to continue to add more local jobs and sales tax revenue.
According to a 2017 report created by the Department of Tourist Development for the state of Tennessee, since 2013, the year DPA opened, tourism in Obion County has generated more than $8 million dollars in local tax revenue and more than $16 million in state tax revenue.
Additionally, tourism provides hundreds of jobs throughout the region and is a contributor to those choosing to bring other business and industry to the area.
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