Tour Operators Name Tennessee First in 2009 Motorcoach Travel
Monday, February 02, 2009 | 06:00pm
NASHVILLE – Tennessee has been named the No.1 Motorcoach State for 2009 by Byways magazine, one of the tourism industry’s most respected motorcoach publications. This ranking, based upon an annual survey of where U.S. motorcoach operators plan to bring tour groups in 2009, is good news for the $14.2 billion tourism industry in Tennessee.
“Tennessee has always been a popular destination with its world-class attractions that draw motorcoach travel,” said Steve Kirchner, Byways magazine publisher. “Naturally, landing at No.1 is our strongest indicator that 2009 will be an exceptionally good year for motorcoach travel to Tennessee.”
“The ranking in Byways magazine is a strong vote of confidence for Tennessee’s growing stature in the world of motorcoach travel,” said Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker. “This travel niche has always been a high priority for Tennessee’s tourism industry, and reaching the No.1 ranking in Byways magazine is an excellent gauge of our industry-wide efforts.”
Tennessee’s closest competitors in 2009 are Virginia at No. 2 and Florida at No. 3. Rounding out the top five are New York and Pennsylvania. Tennessee held the No. 2 spot in Byways in 2008.
Byways magazine is a bi-monthly publication in its 26th year, reaching more than 4,000 U.S. motorcoach operators and tour planners. It is hailed “the motorcoach magazine for motorcoach tour planners.” The annual survey, forecasting the upcoming year’s motorcoach travel plans, was conducted in the last two months of 2008.
Some of Tennessee’s most popular tourism assets, attracting motorcoach traffic year-round, include Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bristol Motor Speedway, the Tennessee Aquarium, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum.
In addition to Tennessee’s No.1 state ranking, three of Tennessee’s tourism attractions made the “Top 10 Man-made Attractions” list, including the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville (No.4), Dollywood in Pigeon Forge (No.6) and Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis (No.8).
Tennessee’s three grand regions, east, middle and west, were represented in the publication’s “Top 50 Cities,” with Pigeon Forge ranking No. 4, Nashville at No.6, Memphis No.22 and Knoxville receiving an honorable mention.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is to create and promote travel to and within Tennessee, to develop programs that encourage and support the growth of the state’s tourism industry, to manage a system of welcome centers that provides visitors with a positive impression of Tennessee, and to encourage them to extend their stay, all of which contributes to the state’s economic growth, thereby enriching the quality of life for every Tennessean.
For more information, contact the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s Communications Director Cindy Dupree at (615) 741-9010 or by e-mail at Cindy.Dupree@state.tn.us.
In addition to Tennessee’s No.1 state ranking, three of Tennessee’s tourism attractions made the “Top 10 Man-made Attractions” list, including the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville (No.4), Dollywood in Pigeon Forge (No.6) and Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis (No.8).
Tennessee’s three grand regions, east, middle and west, were represented in the publication’s “Top 50 Cities,” with Pigeon Forge ranking No. 4, Nashville at No.6, Memphis No.22 and Knoxville receiving an honorable mention.
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is to create and promote travel to and within Tennessee, to develop programs that encourage and support the growth of the state’s tourism industry, to manage a system of welcome centers that provides visitors with a positive impression of Tennessee, and to encourage them to extend their stay, all of which contributes to the state’s economic growth, thereby enriching the quality of life for every Tennessean.
For more information, contact the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s Communications Director Cindy Dupree at (615) 741-9010 or by e-mail at Cindy.Dupree@state.tn.us.
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