Visitor spending in Hamilton County, Tennessee, totaled $1.878 billion in 2025, representing a 4% increase over 2024 and surpassing the Tennessee statewide growth rate of 2.7%, according to data from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Statewide, Tennessee’s tourism sector generated a record $32.5 billion in direct visitor spending in 2025, contributing $3.3 billion in state and local tax revenue. Since 2018, Tennessee’s tourism economy has expanded by 40%, nearly double the national growth rate of 22% over the same period.
Hotel Growth and Visitor Attractions Drive Spending Increase
Visitor spending in Hamilton County grew by 27.6% between 2018 and 2025, outperforming the national average.
This growth was fueled partly by the opening of 19 new hotel properties that added over 2,000 rooms from 2018 to 2025. The quality of local assets—including live music, outdoor activities, and entertainment offerings—also contributed to attracting visitors.
Officials Highlight Economic and Tax Benefits of Tourism
Susan Harris, interim CEO of Chattanooga Tourism Co., said, “The hospitality industry in Hamilton County continues to play a vital role in our region’s economic growth. We are fortunate to have so many dedicated and talented partners across our hotels, attractions, restaurants, and small businesses who welcome visitors and fuel our community’s continued success.”
Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of
Tourist Development, noted, “Tennessee is a sales tax state. The quality of our assets – whether that’s live music or entertainment or outdoors – are attractive to visitors. Every tax dollar captured from an out-of-state visitor is a dollar retained in Tennessee and used for Tennesseans. It’s incredible to see communities understanding the power of visitor spending, and leveraging that spending for the good of their residents.”
Southeast Tennessee Tourism Regional Performance
Hamilton County is located within Tennessee’s Southeast tourism region, where visitor spending reached $2.3 billion in 2025. This figure marks a 3.5% increase from 2024 and a 26.2% rise since 2018, reflecting consistent
regional growth driven by sustained visitor demand.
Local Tourism Updates in Hamilton County
Recent tourism activities include new educational offerings at the Chattanooga Zoo, designed specifically for homeschooling families and senior adults during fall 2026. The Tennessee Aquarium reported the hatching of a second Gentoo Penguin chick on July 17, 2026, at its Penguins’ Rock gallery. Meanwhile, the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center announced new leadership and additions to its board of trustees.
