More Tourists Are Bringing More Of Their Money To Williamson County

FRANKLIN, TN — More than 1.3 million people visited Williamson County in 2015 and when they came, they spent more money than ever.

Spending by visitors provided a $410.69 million economic impact to the county in 2015, according to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, up from $407.46 million the previous year. The 1.31 million visitors is a 7.1 percent jump.

In five years, the local economic impact of tourism in Williamson County has grown by $115 million.

“We have made it a priority to bring the hospitality industry in Williamson County together to promote our destination to domestic and international travelers,” said Ellie Westman Chin, President and CEO of the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Reaching an all-time high is a great indicator that we are making Williamson County a premier destination for visitors and business travelers.”

Direct spending and tax collections at hotels, restaurants and attractions were $33.2 million, sixth among the state's 95 counties.

The state also estimated 3,000 tourism industry jobs in the county with a payroll of $64.68 million.

Image via Wikimedia user Ichabod, used under Creative Commons