Linden, Tenn.  – Visitors to Perry County generated $8,474,804 in spending in 2024, representing a 20.03% increase from 2023, according to newly released data from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Perry is part of the South Central Tennessee Tourism, a 13-county region which saw $545,964,900 in direct economic impact.

“I’m beyond thrilled to see this tremendous increase in the economic impact of tourism in Perry County,” Executive Director Allyson Dickey, Perry County Chamber, said. “Visitor spending climbed almost $1.5 million, year over year, and our county moved up in rank from 85 to 81 among Tennessee counties. This is definitely a team effort, as our tourism partners have worked intentionally and collaboratively to help make this happen. We all have a lot to be grateful for this year in our beautiful county."

BY THE NUMBERS*:

·      Direct visitor spending in Perry County generated $319,923 in state tax revenue and $365,415 in local tax revenue.

·      If it were not for state and local taxes generated by tourism, each household in Perry County would pay$225 more in state and local taxes.

·      Perry County ranked 81 among the 95 counties in Tennessee based on visitor spending.  

·       

*Research conducted by Tourism Economics, commissioned by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. The data above highlights the impact of visitors within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Perry County.

“In 2024 Perry County continued its impressive trajectory in the tourism and hospitality industry, posting one of the strongest year-over-year increases in Tennessee with 20.03% growth over 2023,” Executive Director Ryan French, SCTTA, said. “Iconic outdoor assets such as the Buffalo River, Lady’s Bluff, Mousetail Landing State Park, and proximity to the Natchez Trace all play a major role in driving visitation. Leading sectors remain destination lodging, food and beverage, and transportation. Overall visitor spending has nearly doubled since 2020 and has increased by nearly $3 million annually since 2021, a year many considered the start of the industry’s recovery.

“This growth is the direct result of strong local leadership and a clear focus on programming and regional marketing strategies, including targeting Nashville visitors, French continued. “With the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism continuing to invest in branding and digital assets to strengthen promotion, Perry County is only beginning to realize the true impact tourism will have in the years ahead. These numbers are nothing short of remarkable.”

Statewide, Tennessee’s tourism industry broke records for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, generating $31.66 billion in direct visitor spending and welcoming 147 million visitors.

“I’m so grateful to our amazing tourism and hospitality industry for these remarkable results,” said Mark Ezell, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “The Tennessee Tourism team has been able to leverage bigger tourism budgets to help grow visitor spending over 36% in these last six years. We are leading the nation as one of just a few states that are aggressively growing tax revenue from non-Tennessee residents to benefit all seven million Tennesseans.” 

2024 Statewide Highlights:

·      Tennessee saw a 12% year-over-year increase in international travel spending. This is notable because the report does not consider impacts from new direct flights from Iceland and Ireland added in Spring 2025. Those impacts will not appear until next year’s report. 

·      74 out of 95 counties saw year-over-year growth.

·      Tennessee direct visitor spending has grown 36.6% over 2018 compared to the US AVG growth of 17.4% per data from Tourism Economics. 

Tourism is a powerful economic driver across all 95 counties, generating $3.3 billion in combined state and local tax revenue. Full details can be found in the statewide press release. Tourism boosts local economies, supports businesses and jobs, funds public services and creates a better quality of life for all Tennesseans.

The 2024 Economic Impact on Travel Report analyzes statewide spending and visitation from domestic and international travelers to Tennessee. The report includes methodology used to determine visitor spending, tax generation, job creation and more. The TN Travel Impact Interactive County Dashboard provides instant access to key metrics, statewide and by county, about the economic impact of travel to Tennessee. All data is sourced from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tourism Economics, with national benchmarks provided by U.S. Travel Association.

About Tennessee Department of Tourist Development 

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties. TDTD’s global marketing efforts increase visitation to Tennessee, which boosts tax revenue, creates jobs and attracts new investment across the state. Tennessee is a global destination of choice offering visitors world-class music, live entertainment, family-friendly experiences, charming communities, innovative and classic culinary creations, renowned scenic beauty and outdoor adventure—all centered at the crossroads of rich history and unrivaled hospitality. Vacations “sound perfect” in Tennessee. Visit TNvacation.com and follow @TNvacation on social media for travel inspiration.

PERRY COUNTY, Tenn. — A proposed natural gas power plant could bring a "generational opportunity" to northern Perry County, while helping to meet the electricity needs of hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans.
 

WOPC has learned that Perry County leaders have expressed interest in the project — both locally and directly to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) leadership. The proposal follows a failed initiative earlier this year to construct the plant in Cheatham County, where community opposition extended as far as the White House.
 

Nearby New Johnsonville has also indicated interest in hosting the facility.
 

Sources tell WOPC that a letter has been drafted — and possibly already submitted — to TVA leadership, exploring the possibility of building the plant on a long-held industrial site along Highway 13 North.
 

“Think of the benefits of this location — near the interstate, very close to existing natural gas pipelines, and positioned in a county that could benefit from the jobs created for generations,” one local leader told WOPC.
 

In a statement to WOPC on Wednesday, TVA said: “TVA is taking a thoughtful approach to meet the region’s rapidly growing demand for electricity. At the heart of our approach is listening — to our communities, our partners, public officials and our Board. We are actively exploring viable sites across the Tennessee Valley footprint that support economic development while meeting the critical need for affordable, reliable power.”

Local leaders also point to the Perry County site's location to nearby areas of rapid growth, including Dickson and Williamson Counties. 

We will continue to track developments. 

Learn more about the plant and how it operates, by clicking here. 

(Images courtesy of TVA.com)