Tourism Rebranding Brought to White COunty

Tourism has brought White County and Sparta a lot of revenue the past few years, and it’s been getting pushed more and more as one of the area’s best assets for the local economy. To help show its benefits, progress, and future, the Chamber of Commerce recently hosted their Tourism Forum on March 31. With guests Ashley DeRossett from the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development and Steve Chandler, a leading expert in tourism strategies.

Chandler’s presentation focused on a lot of the strategies and benefits of White County’s tourism. He pointed out the waterfalls, Bluegrass claims, and a solid downtown infrastructure. With Bluegrass, he said that frequent events that show off the pride in that can help, which Mayor Jerry Lowery pointed out has been a recent addition to Sparta’s local events with the Bluegrass on the Square event.

“How are you going to make people feel?” Asked Chandler. “What are you going to endorse? How can we collaborate to promote this together?”

Some specific suggestions that Chandler put out included Bluegrass council for the community, partnering with Smithville, or a bigger project that really puts that “Bluegrass Tennessee” claim to fame to use.

The other speaker, DeRossett, has been with the Tennesee Department of Tourism Development for many years. Local to the Upper Cumberland herself, she recognized how important it was to keep true to White County’s natural benefits to strengthen tourism. She also showed statistics on how tourism funds have helped not just the state, but specifically our county.

DeRossett showed how tourism revenue can help keep property taxes down by putting tax burdens on visitors, rather than residents. That would also mean that more revenue can go towards local children, since you do not have to educate tourists’ kids for more than a dozen years.

By the end of the event, all the chamber members present were eager to work together to continue making White County as great as it can be. The Chamber was pleased with the turnout too, with around 50 members attending, representing businesses across the county.