East Tennessee tourism holds steady amid national travel slump

East Tennessee tourism holds steady amid national travel slump

TOWNSEND, Tenn. (WATE) — Tourism is down nationwide and America is on track to lose $12.5 billion of international travel spending this year, according to a World Travel and Tourism Council study. Tourism groups in East Tennessee said they are beginning to feel the change.   However, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development commissioner Mark Ezell said Tennessee's tourism has grown nearly 20% more than the national average in the last six yea…