Tourism spending in Hamilton County jumped more than 40% last year coming out of the worst of the pandemic, boosting visitor spending back above $1.5 billion in 2021, according to a new report released by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Last year’s tourism spending in Chattanooga was still below the pre-pandemic peak reached in 2019, but the local growth in visitor spending topped the U.S. growth pace last year after shutdowns in 2020 forced business closings and layoffs in the industry in 2020.
Barry White, president of the Chattanooga Tourism Co., said Tuesday even with most businesses reopened last year, hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions “still faced huge challenges with the ongoing pandemic impacts on health, travel plans, workforce, supply chains and inflation.