Group Tour Industry Sees Big Demand for Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, Tennessee



Tour operators’ survey ranks predicted business volume for upcoming year

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (December 2010) – Operators of group tours and motorcoach tours rank Pigeon Forge, Tenn., seventh among all destination cities and Tennessee fifth among the 50 states in their anticipated volume of business for 2011.
 
Byways Magazine, a group tour industry trade magazine, surveyed tour operators from throughout North America to determine the rankings. The survey asked operators where they think their groups will travel in the coming year. This is the 27th year for the survey.
 
Pigeon Forge, a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has ranked in the top 10 cities every year since 2007.  It was in the top spot by itself in 2007 and tied for first place with Washington, D.C., in 2008.  

The top 10 cities predicted for 2011 are Washington and New York City, tied for first place, then Nashville, Branson, Mo.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Pigeon Forge; Williamsburg, Va.; Atlantic City, N.J.; and Mackinac Island, Mich.
 
“Pigeon Forge is a solid favorite with consumers, and tour operators recognize that. We work every day to make consumers and operators alike know what Pigeon Forge has to offer,” said Joy McNealy, senior sales manager for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.
 
McNealy noted that Tennessee’s overall high rating and a high rating for Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry work in Pigeon Forge’s favor.
 
“The appeal of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood and Pigeon Forge’s other group-friendly attractions combines well with itineraries that also feature Nashville and other Tennessee destinations,” she said.
 
As a state, Tennessee ranked fifth, behind New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.  Virginia and Maryland rank well in part because of their proximity to Washington, D.C.

Tennessee’s visitor attractions captured three spots on the tour operators’ list of top man-made attractions. The Grand Ole Opry was fifth, Elvis Presley’s Graceland was eighth and Dollywood was 11th.
 
Cracker Barrel restaurants earned another accolade for Tennessee when it was named the tour operators’ top group-friendly restaurant. The nationwide chain is headquartered in Lebanon, Tenn.
 
“Every motorcoach you see in Pigeon Forge means paychecks for our community.  We love seeing them roll into town, and we hate to see them leave,” McNealy said.
 
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Results of the Byways Magazine poll of tour operators
 
Top 10 Group Tour Destinations
 
  1. (Tie) Washington and New York City
  2. Nashville
  3. Branson
  4. Gettysburg
  5. Niagara Falls
  6. Pigeon Forge
  7. Williamsburg
  8. Atlantic City
  9. Mackinac Island


Top 10 Group Tour States
 

  1. New York
  2. Pennsylvania
  3. Virginia
  4. Maryland
  5. Tennessee
  6. Florida
  7. Missouri
  8. New Jersey
  9. Massachusetts
  10. Michigan

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