Tourism continues to benefit Blount County’s booming economy in a powerful way! A record year for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park brought a slew of visitors to Blount County in 2015; in fact, the park’s Townsend entrance experienced an 8.3 percent increase in visitors from the year before.
Our county’s popularity is paying dividends for the local economy. A 2014 study (the most recent year available) reveals that Blount County residents would pay $588 more in taxes if not for tax revenue generated by tourism, which totaled $11 million dollars in 2014. The influx of $331 million of tourist spending into the area’s economy funded tens of millions of dollars in employee paychecks.
The area’s numerous adventures, natural wonders and activities are attracting visitors in record numbers!
