Tennessee Tourism Launches New Campaign To Inspire Traveling Safely In Tennessee Amid Coronavirus

  • Monday, June 15, 2020

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) launched a multi-phase campaign on Monday with a mission to raise awareness about traveling safely amid COVID-19 as travel picks up in communities across the state. The COVID-19 virus is the largest crisis to hit the travel, leisure and hospitality industries in history, shutting down almost all travel activities and threatening the security of businesses and employees the industry supports. Research shows travelers are getting out into their own communities, reconnecting with family and friends, taking road trips close to home and exploring outdoor scenic beauty where they can safely socially distance.

The department, along with its agency of record, VMLY&R, created a series of videos featuring Tennessee-produced songs like “Tired of Being Alone” by Al Green“My Tennessee Mountain Home” by Dolly Parton and “I Can’t Wait” by Memphis band Star & Micey.

Each video showcases outdoor scenic beauty, “outdoor venues” with music provided by the sounds of nature, road trips, and the diverse music, history and culture in Tennessee.

 “As we’ve seen now more than ever, tourism and hospitality are vital to Tennessee’s economic recovery and helps create jobs and fuel revenues,” said Commissioner Mark Ezell, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “I’ve seen the devastation of this pandemic firsthand. We are ready. Our businesses and attractions are ready. I encourage travelers to safely explore, support local businesses and attractions, create family memories, discover outdoor scenic beauty, take road trips, explore rural destinations and hidden gems that make Tennessee a world-renowned destination.”

special webpage on tnvacation.com features traveler safety information and health guidance, trip planning resources, travel updates (including attraction and restaurant re-openings), how to support local businesses, interactive and virtual experiences, a Tennessee playlist and safe trip ideas like:

This campaign is critical because travel in Tennessee has been suffering since the Coronavirus pandemic broke out globally. Research indicates:

Tourism is the state’s second largest industry, which historically broke visitation records domestically and internationally and exceeded economic impact numbers year over year. For the full report on “The Economic Impact of Travel in Tennessee” in 2018 click here.

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