ROANE COUNTY TOURISM HITS RECORD $82.5 MILLION IN 2025 SPENDING, OUTPACING STATE GROWTH RATE
Tourism in Roane County generated $82,459,488 in visitor spending last year, marking an 8.4% increase over 2024 and outperforming Tennessee’s overall statewide growth rate of 2.7%.
According to data released by Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the local tourism sector has surged 50.7% since 2018, driven heavily by spikes in lodging. The economic boost translates to nearly $226,000 spent daily on local dining, lodging, retail, transportation, and recreation.
Economic Impact Highlights
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Tax Relief: Visitor spending contributed $4.75 million in state taxes and $3.71 million in local taxes, saving each Roane County household an estimated $371 in annual taxes.
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State Ranking: Roane County placed 27th out of Tennessee’s 95 counties in total visitor spending.
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Regional Context: As part of the Middle East tourism region—which brought in $7.9 billion in 2025—Roane County continues to leverage its natural and recreational assets to attract travelers.
“Tourism continues to make a tremendous economic impact in Roane County,” said Roane Alliance President and CEO Justin Snow. “More than $82 million in visitor spending supports our local businesses, creates jobs, and generates tax revenue that helps fund essential services for our residents.”
Statewide, Tennessee tourism reached a historic $32.5 billion in direct visitor spending in 2025, with 57 counties experiencing year-over-year growth.
