Commissioner Mark Ezell of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, along with department staff members Josh Gibson and Ashley Drossett, visited Livingston this week to meet with Overton County Executive Austin Dodson, City of Livingston Mayor Lori Elder Burnett, and other community leaders to review the county's tourism performance, discuss the resources available through the state, and explore opportunities to grow Overton County's visitor economy.

The discussion centered on the important role that visitors play in strengthening the local economy, as travelers bring outside dollars into the community that support local businesses and generate the sales and lodging taxes that help fund essential services. According to data presented by the department, Overton County welcomed an estimated 48,000 overnight visitors and 73,000 day visitors in 2025, and 37% of all credit card spending in the county came from people who live outside of it.

That spending has a direct impact on residents, because local option sales tax funds 65% of Overton County school revenue, compared to 32% from property taxes. As a result, growth in visitor spending helps support local schools while easing the property tax burden on the people who call Overton County home.

State officials recognized the work the county has already accomplished through state programs supporting branding, photography and video, digital marketing, wayfinding signage, and strategic planning, including a recent $30,000 marketing grant. They also commended the county's dedicated investment in tourism, noting that local commitment strengthens eligibility for competitive state grant opportunities in the future.

Much of the conversation focused on the opportunities ahead, especially growing the number of visitors who choose to stay the night in Overton County rather than in neighboring communities. Department data shows that an overnight visitor spends an average of $128 per trip compared to $39 for a day visitor, generating roughly $5.60 in tax revenue for the county compared to $0.98 from a day visitor. With that in mind, leaders discussed lodging development as both a tourism and economic development priority, building on a state-funded feasibility study which found that the county could support a new hotel of approximately 62 rooms.

"We are grateful to Commissioner Ezell, Josh, and Ashley for taking the time to come to Livingston and sit down with our local leaders, because their data makes it clear that every visitor we welcome, and especially every visitor who stays the night, is helping support our schools, our small businesses, and our local tax base," said Zach Stephens, President and CEO of the Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce. "Overton County has so much to offer and we look forward to continuing to work alongside our state partners to share it with more people and give them more reasons to stay a while."

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development will continue to serve as a resource for Overton County, providing data, grant opportunities, feasibility information, and support for hotel recruitment as local leaders work to build on this momentum.

About the Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce: The Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce works to strengthen the local economy through economic development, tourism, workforce development, small business support, and government advocacy, serving as a partner and resource for businesses and residents throughout Overton County.