State Showing Tourism Growth, Putnam Too

Visitor spending across Tennessee increased six percent last year, according to newly released data, spending that shows up locally.

Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau Director of Tourism Shan Stout said the county benefits as the state continues to expand its tourism footprint. She said the latest data showed some $1.7 million in visitor dollars coming into Putnam County.

“The more visitors that come and generate that growth in our area the lower our taxes can stay,” Stout said. “And so that’s the most important part about my job, So to know that we are growing on a steady trend that’s the direction we want to see.”

Stout said last year an estimated 340,000 visitors visited Broad Street in Cookeville alone. Stout said some reviews on various media platforms are calling Putnam County the “Small Smoky Mountains” due to providing a similar experience without the traffic and congestion. Stout said businesses in Putnam County depend on tourism dollars to stay open.

“All that additional revenue keeps our restaurants open,” Stout said. “They depend on locals and visitors to be able to thrive. Our boutiques, our shops, and all of the stores, those businesses depend on that additional visitor spending to make their bottom line tangible and sustainable.”

Stout said the reason more people are visiting Putnam County is because people grew more interested in the outdoor experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We capture that in a beautiful way,” Stout said. “And then the nice thing is you don’t only have all the beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails, we are adjacent to so many state parks, but we also have that historic downtown piece.”