Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development is the head of Tennessee
's Department of Tourist Development
, which is concerned with attracting tourism
to the state. The Commissioner is appointed by the governor of Tennessee and is a member of the governor's Cabinet, which meets at least once per month, or more often to the governor's liking.
The Commissioner, in accordance with the rules of the state publications committee, acts through the tourism division of the Department to collect, compile, and distribute literature relating to the facilities, the advantages and attractions of the state, the historic, recreational, and scenic points and places of interest within the state, and the transportation and highway
facilities of the state.
The Commissioner is also authorized to form contracts with agencies of any type that will further objectives of advertising to Tennessee nonresidents, to compile information from state government branches for advertising purposes, and to accept unconditional gifts of money for the Department of Tourist Development's purposes.
The position of Commissioner was created in 1976, along with the Department it heads. The current Commissioner under the Phil Bredesen
administration, , is Susan Whitaker. The previous Commissioner under the Don Sundquist
administration was John Wade.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
's Department of Tourist Development
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is a Cabinet-level agency within the Tennessee state government, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Tourist Development, who is currently Susan Whitaker. The Department is responsible for attracting the tourism to Tennessee and marketing to...
, which is concerned with attracting tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
to the state. The Commissioner is appointed by the governor of Tennessee and is a member of the governor's Cabinet, which meets at least once per month, or more often to the governor's liking.
The Commissioner, in accordance with the rules of the state publications committee, acts through the tourism division of the Department to collect, compile, and distribute literature relating to the facilities, the advantages and attractions of the state, the historic, recreational, and scenic points and places of interest within the state, and the transportation and highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
facilities of the state.
The Commissioner is also authorized to form contracts with agencies of any type that will further objectives of advertising to Tennessee nonresidents, to compile information from state government branches for advertising purposes, and to accept unconditional gifts of money for the Department of Tourist Development's purposes.
The position of Commissioner was created in 1976, along with the Department it heads. The current Commissioner under the Phil Bredesen
Phil Bredesen
Philip Norman "Phil" Bredesen Jr. was the 48th Governor of Tennessee, serving from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected Governor in 2002, and was re-elected in 2006. He previously served as the fourth mayor of Nashville and Davidson County from 1991 to...
administration, , is Susan Whitaker. The previous Commissioner under the Don Sundquist
Don Sundquist
Donald Kenneth Sundquist is a former governor and congressman from Tennessee. A Republican, he served as the 47th Governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003...
administration was John Wade.