It seems no matter what happens with the economy, Chattanooga and North Georgia’s tourism industry weathers the storm.
Remember when the economy was booming? The Tennessee Aquarium and other attractions were great for families from all over the country and the region, officials say.
Remember last summer’s budget-friendly staycations? Chattanooga scored because of its affordable local attractions for families. That was around the time when North Georgia really stepped up its marketing of so-called “heritage tourism” sites.
And this year, when the economy shows some signs of recovery, tourism officials expect travelers are ready to travel again, but not too far from home.
Well, that not-too-far-from-home crowd is just the sort Chattanooga loves to court.
“Research shows that last year people stayed close to home, this year they intend to take regional trips, and next year they plan to take bigger trips, assuming the economy continues to improve,” said Thom Benson, spokesman for the Tennessee Aquarium, citing results from a just-completed study on summer tourism.
Tourism is big business across the state. Tennessee is within a day’s drive of 65 percent of the U.S. population, making it a popular destination. According to state estimates, the industry has an economic impact of more than $14 billion yearly, the Associated Press reported.
Already, requests for information, convention bookings and spring break business suggests it’s going to be a good summer, said Steve Genovesi, vice president of sales and marketing for the Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“We are very optimistic that the summer is going to be good for Chattanooga,” Mr. Genovesi said.
That same view is shared by Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper. That city has been active in courting visitors who want to see the Old South charm of Civil War sites, antebellum mansions and old-time railroads.
“We are really optimistic,” Mr. Culpepper said. “A lot of our efforts to market this part of the state are really coming to fruition.”
He points to a weekly stop being made by the Tennessee Valley Railroad as a big win for Chickamauga. The train will stop downtown every Saturday for 31 weekends, he said. Tourists are deposited in the middle of shops and restaurants and allowed to browse for two hours.
In 2011, the entire region expects more tourists during the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Chickamauga and other cities have joined in a tri-state marketing effort for the anniversary.
Mr. Culpepper hopes all the marketing, the interest in nearby and affordable attractions and a greater number of baby boomers with disposable income will contribute to healthy tourists seasons this year and in future years.
If early signs hold true, downtown Chattanooga should be busy, too.
Mr. Genovesi said requests for information are up 30 percent and visitor center visits were up 7 percent during spring break. The Aquarium is noticing increases already.
“This year we’re seeing double digit increases in attendance from people living within several hundred miles of Chattanooga,” said Cyndi Todd, the Aquarium marketing director. “We expected that and we’re tapping into the regional potential with increased marketing.”
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