Visitor spending in Hamilton County, Tennessee totaled $1,878,113,288 in 2025, representing a 4% increase from 2024, according to data from Tourism Economics commissioned by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Statewide Tourism Spending and Tax Revenue
Across Tennessee, direct visitor spending reached $32.5 billion in 2025. The tourism sector generated $3.3 billion in combined state and local tax revenues that year.
Growth Since 2018 and Hotel Capacity Expansion in Hamilton County
Since 2018, Hamilton County’s visitor spending increased 27.6%, led by lodging sector gains. From 2018 through 2025, 19 new hotel properties opened in the county, adding more than 2,000 hotel rooms. Statewide, Tennessee’s tourism economy expanded by 40% since 2018, nearly double the 22% growth
seen nationally over the same period.
Official Comments on Tourism Impact
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, remarked, “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.”
Regional Tourism Trends and Economic Context
Visitor spending in Tennessee’s Southeast tourism region, which includes Hamilton County, totaled $2.3 billion in 2025. This represented a 3.5% increase over 2024 and a 26.2% rise since 2018. The Tennessee Travel Impact Interactive County Dashboard provides data access on travel-related economic metrics for statewide and county levels.
