News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County helped play a role in Tennessee’s record-breaking year in tourism revenue based on statistics from the United States Travel Association.
According to the Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors’ Bureau, the county accounted for over $132 million in Tennessee’s tourism expenditures, one of the top ten counties in percentage increase across the state.
“It pays off with the strategic and focused marketing that is being done… on behalf of the visitors’ bureau down to our local partners with restaurants, attractions, and hotels that are on the front line as well,” VP of Visitor Development Zach Ledbetter said. “It’s a great teamwork approach and success all around for Putnam County.”
Ledbetter said one of the more important statistics to look at is the sales tax revenue generated by tourism.
“Nearly $3 million – $2.7 million – that came in of that visitor spending is local tax revenue that is city and county tax revenue that stays in the county,” Ledbetter said. “That is a 5.4 percent increase over last year’s numbers. So that’s what is big for us as residents and helps keep our taxes low.”
Ledbetter said a lot of the success falls back on the marketing efforts of the Visitor’s Bureau. Recently, the bureau’s “A Natural Fit” campaign as well as their logo and website received multiple silver and gold-status awards for their efforts, branding, and effectiveness.
“Talking to potential visitors and inspiring travel to Putnam County, to get them to come here and enjoy our natural attractions and our great restaurants,” Ledbetter said, “the things we get to see on a daily basis, that definitely plays out to that and it’s the marketing that is helping gain these wonderful returns.”
Ledbetter said helping spread the word on what Cookeville and Putnam County help the Bureau see high returns on investment as well.
“Based on the $300,000 budget that we are allotted from Putnam County and the lodging tax, which is paid by the visitors of Putnam County,” Ledbetter said, “that is an 800 percent return on investment. For every dollar that we spend on marketing Putnam County, we’re receiving $8 back in local tax revenue and that’s just amazing.”
Overall, Putnam County ranked 17th of Tennessee’s 95 counties in total travel expenditures and received nearly $9 million in state tourism tax, up six percent from the previous year. Putnam County also saw an eight percent increase in jobs created in the tourism industry over last year.
