Looking into Local Tourism

This is the first of a three-part series from lead contributor James Clark looking local tourism.

Tourism & Marketing director Jordan Pupols and her kid enjoying some local kayaking.

Tourism dollars are a key part of the Warren County economy. The city of McMinnville has a Tourism & Marketing Department led by director Jordan Pupols that focuses on attracting visitors to our community.

The Warren County Way has compiled a three-part series on tourism to examine who’s coming to Warren County and what they’re doing once they get here.

Where our tourists are coming from:

Nashville visitors make up 29.9% of total traffic.

Knoxville – 11.9%

Chattanooga – 6.6%

Visitors from these nearby Tennessee cities are to be expected because they can drive to Warren County, spend a day, then return home. But there is a surge in unexpected guests.

Said Pupols, “We are seeing a strange and massive jump in long-distance travelers, specifically from Texas and Florida.”

• Texas: Right now, Texans make up 10.6% of our total out-of-town visitors. At this exact time last year, they were only 1.7%.

• Florida: Florida visitors are up to 6.9% of our total traffic, compared to 3.1% last year.

Pupols points out that long-distance tourists matter because they spend more money once they arrive.

“People driving or flying from that far away aren't just here for a quick day trip,” said Pupols. “They stay overnight, typically for several days, which increases local spending. On average, overnight visitors spend 189% more per day than those who only come for the day.”

Why are people coming to Warren County? They love our natural beauty! “There is a massive pivot toward outdoor activities,” said Pupols.

Out of all people visiting our county, 37% are spending time on our trails, waterways, and outdoor recreation areas. Last year, that number was sitting right at 20%. It’s the single biggest jump in any visitor category.

NOTE: Figures were furnished by McMinnville’s Tourism and Marketing Department.