Tennessee’s nine regional tourism organizations partner with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) to promote travel across the state—region by region. These teams are the boots-on-the-ground marketers and destination developers, working every day to help communities attract visitors, grow local business revenue, create jobs, and strengthen county and state tax bases.
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Each region highlights what makes its corner of Tennessee special—whether that’s outdoor adventure, music heritage, history, food culture, festivals, or small-town charm—through coordinated marketing, product development, and partner support.
What Regional Tourism Organizations Do
Marketing and Regional Branding
Regional teams build and manage destination brands and campaigns that speak directly to their area—often through dedicated websites and platforms (like ExperienceTN.com) that showcase trip ideas, attractions, trails, rivers, local flavors, shops, and seasonal highlights.
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Product and Event Development
They help create, improve, and promote experiences that motivate travel—everything from signature festivals and sporting events to agritourism, trails, cultural experiences, and new visitor itineraries.
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Partner Collaboration
Regional organizations work closely with:
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Local businesses (hotels, restaurants, attractions, shops, guides, venues)
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Chambers of Commerce
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Convention & Visitors Bureaus (CVBs)
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City and county partners
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…to strengthen the visitor experience and amplify what’s already happening on the ground.
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Visitor Information and Trip Support
They serve travelers by providing trusted guidance and trip-planning resources—sometimes including direct assistance through welcome centers or online tools.
Grant and Co-op Support
Many regions distribute state funding and manage co-op advertising or grant opportunities that help local partners market smarter and compete for visitors.
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Economic Development Impact
Ultimately, regional tourism organizations help communities:
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Increase visitor stays and spending
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Support local jobs
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Grow tourism-related tax revenue
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Strengthen long-term destination competitiveness
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We are seeking a simple inflationary adjustment.
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We are not funded by TDTD
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We have have not had an increase since the legislation's creation in
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Regional tourism organizations are critical for rural communities. In many cases they serve as an extension to small rural staffs.
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This investment would relive financial burden in rural communities
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We are already a trusted investment of the state's Department of Tourist Development. Recently securing two rounds of ARPA funding.
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We are already a trusted investment of the state's Department of Tourist Development as a key economic driver. This was showcased with the department's investment of a second round of ARPA funding.