Economic employment opportunities in a tourism community : a case study of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee

In this study, the economic employment benefits of hotel and restaurant employment in a tourism community were examined. A survey of randomly selected hotels and restaurants was undertaken in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee to address the research question: What economic employment opportunities do hotels and restaurants offer employees in a tourism community? The survey determined that jobs are plentiful in an area that before the emergence of tourism had a significantly high unemployment rate. Tourism employment in this area offers the workforce a choice of job alternatives. In general, while wage rates were competitive, employers did not offer many fringe benefits. To maintain the well-being of the workforce, the local governments of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg because of their devotion to tourism development, must work together to provide opportunities besides competitive wage rates that will benefit their citizens. The success of tourism is directly related to the quality, well being, and industriousness of its workforce, and therefore, the benefits extended to the workforce should be considered a serious matter if the community is to prosper.