Developers and businesses profit
tremendously here because Sevierville is a large and
integral part of Tennessee’s
vast $12.4 billion (per annum)
tourism industry*. Another advantage is that visitors
see the Great Smoky Mountains as a region,
not as a group of distinct cities-
one expansive marketplace of cultural diversity,
entertainment options, dining pleasures, and shopping
choices. Very noteworthy,
too, is the revenue increase that will be realized from
spin-off customers as a result of the phenomenal
amount of national, statewide,
and regional tourism advertising
that is spent on our area. Recognized as a formidable
vacation
destination-we are within a day’s drive (500 miles) of
most of the U.S. population east of the Mississippi-
the Great Smoky Mountain region advertises aggressively
as a major national player for tourist dollars. And that
often translates into ‘free’ advertising for your
business. For instance, the critically
acclaimed ‘The Stage is Set for You’ advertising
campaign has generated a 25% increase in the number of
inquiries to the Tennessee
Department of Tourism. A number of travel writers are
also brought into the area each year-a public relations
gesture that generates
considerable publicity-and Sevierville advertises in
national publications such as Family Circle, Better
Homes and Gardens, Southern
Living, Woman’s Day as well |
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as advertising via internet and
television.
The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce (SCC) dedicates
extensive
amounts of energy and money on aggressive advertising
for the city. Our websites and 800 numbers
are other popular vehicles for increasing commerce in
Sevierville.
About 1,500 inquiries a month are received at
1-888SEVIERVILLE,
and www. visitsevierville.com is registering about
30,000-40,000 visits per month. Potential visitors can
receive
any number of attractive glossy four-color publications
suited to the individual or the group tour’s needs.
These publications
include the 26-page Group Tour Planner, the 32-page
Vacation
Planner, the 20-page Smoky Mountains Wedding Planner,
The 24-page Smoky Mountains coupon book, and the 24-page
Community Resource Guide magazine. The SCC has also
produced three videos:
a 60-second spot for television advertising, and 12-and
20-minute videos promoting tourism and business
growth. In various ways, these resources introduce
people to the many and diverse entertainment, shopping,
dining, lodging, and business choices available in our
city. And let’s not forget this economic
development publication, which carries a host of vital
statistics
about Sevierville and highlights
the many services, programs, and resources available to
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business arrivals. And once you’re
here, you will be added to the 6,000+ circulation of the
city’s quarterly, newsletter The Citizen, which keeps us
up-to-date on services,
programs, projects, and issues
facing the city. Subscribe, too, to one of Sevier
county’s newspapers,
or, get the news online from the Mountain Press, www.
themountainpress.com; Sevier County News, www.
seviercountynews.com; or the Herald
newspapers, www. theheraldnewspapers.com
Free advertising for the region abounds. Because the
scenic Great Smoky Mountains are by far the dominant and
most beautiful natural
feature in Tennessee, the state’s literature,
advertising, and public relations campaigns focus on our
region. Every year you can count on new calendars,
coffee table photo books, and regional and national
media attention showcasing the natural beauty of the
area, with its potential to draw an increasing number of
customers to your business.
Nearby Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, is another huge draw.
Dolly-wood is Tennessee’s number one man-made tourist
attraction drawing
2.2 million visitors to Sevier County each year. With
Sevier County’s ongoing promotion of its popular
Winterfest attractions, our area is now the year-round
destination
for families and other visitors to Tennessee. |
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