The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is a Cabinet-level agency within the

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

state government, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development, who is currently Mark Ezell. The Department is responsible for attracting

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...

to Tennessee and marketing to residents both in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

and internationally. Annually, $100,000, or however much is necessary of that amount, is appropriated from the general fund of the state when not otherwise appropriated for carrying out the Department's duties. When the Department was first created in 1976, it was divided into the tourism division and the

hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...

and restaurant division. Divisions may be abolished or added by the Commissioner with governor approval, and the Commissioner can also transfer to the tourism division any employees of the department. The Commissioner appoints a director of the tourist division, who is required by statute to be a competent person, properly informed on public contracts, publicity, tourism, and tourist promotion, and having executive ability. The tourist division is also responsible for managing seventeen

welcome center A visitor center or centre (see American and British English spelling differences), visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to visitors. Types of visitor center A visi ...

s across Tennessee's interstate highways, from which tourists may make hotel and campground reservations.

Welcome Centers

There are sixteen welcome centers across Tennessee, mostly located at major entrances into the state, such as immediately off interstates and major highways (14 off interstates and 3 off U.S. Routes). These welcome centers usually consist of a large building with restroom facilities, brochures, staffed desks for people to ask for assistance, picnic areas, and large parking lots. In addition to the aforementioned, there is a large flagpole with the state flag in front of the building. All of the below listed welcome centers are open 24 hours a day, except for the I-40 welcome center, which closes at 10:30 PM CST. The headquarters for the state's welcome centers is called ''Welcome Centers'' and is located in Nashville. More information can be found at. There are 3 welcome centers each on I-24 and

I-40 Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...

, 2 welcome centers each on

I-75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from St ...

and

I-65 Interstate 65 (I-65) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates ending in 5, it is a major crosscountry, north–south route, connecting between the Great Lakes and the Gulf ...

, and one welcome center each on I-155,

I-81 Interstate 81 (I-81) is a north–south (physically northeast–southwest) Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at I-40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Isla ...

, and

I-55 Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The h ...

. There are two unique welcome centers located in Mountain City and

Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 6,343. Situated just 5 miles (8 km) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Pa ...

, respectively. The Mountain City welcome center serves the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce and the Pigeon Forge location serves the world-famous Pigeon Forge tourist district.

References

External links

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development websiteLexisNexis's archive of Tennessee Code, Title 4
{{authority control Tourist Development