White County set to take the next step in leveraging its natural assets and state partnerships to develop a strategic tourism plan focused on highlighting outdoor attractions.
Sparta-White County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Executive Director Brent Young said the county is working with the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development. Young said the collaboration includes highlighting luxury short-term rentals through the state’s Dark Sky initiative to showcase the local landscape.
“I think our partnership with the state and being able to use them as a resource has helped us out within the last year or so, building that relationship up, being able to apply for grants that are coming down the pipeline and also to first and foremost acknowledge that tourism is an entity that we can use to utilize here within the county,” Young said.
Young said the county relies heavily on short-term rentals to house visitors because there are currently no hotels in the area. Young said these properties are strategically located near waterfalls and parks to provide guests with an immersive experience.
“And people really love those particular places just because of the ambiance and the experience that they can get and they’re located right next to some of our natural beauties of our waterfalls, our parks, and all that good stuff,” Young said. “So yeah, it’s working very, very well.”
Young said the chamber is focused on utilizing state resources and grants to ensure tourism becomes a primary economic entity for the county. Young said the current strategy involves rebuilding relationships with state officials that may have been underutilized in previous years.
“I think in the past we may have not utilized those particular relationships, but we’re definitely looking strategically for the future and tourism is one of those initiatives that we want to grasp,” Young said. “We have built that relationship back up with the Tennessee Department of Tourism and we want to continue that partnership and this is a part of that stepping stone of building that relationship back up.”
Young said a successful tourism model involves visitors transitioning from natural landmarks to the downtown area to support local businesses. Young said the goal is to create a walkable environment where families can enjoy parks, restaurants, and entertainment in a single trip.
“Basically, they’re coming in for the waterfalls and they come downtown for all the other stuff,” Young said.
Young said the county manages these efforts through quarterly tourism forums and a dedicated Tourism Advisory Council. Young said this task team allows stakeholders to vote on future projects, including the potential for more downtown festivals during the summer and fall.
“I would love to see more festivals come downtown, especially during the summer and the fall area and this is where it starts, it always has to start with a foundation and I think we are together building a solid foundation for tourism here in White County,” Young said.
Young said the strategic growth of the tourism industry does not require the community to sacrifice its identity. Young said the county can maximize its economic efforts while maintaining the atmosphere of a small town.
“I think the thing is that we can still be that small town and also still embrace tourism and maximize on tourism efforts all in one, it doesn’t have to be a ‘yes’ or a ‘no,’ it can be an ‘okay,'” Young said. “
