Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
City and county officials released a statement today asking businesses in the tourism sector to stop marketing vacations to the area in an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
A Message From the Mayors of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, Sevier County and Sevierville read:
“We are requesting that businesses in the leisure travel/tourism sector please stop soliciting to guests for vacations in Sevier County through April 14, 2020,” official said. “In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative to follow the guidelines of the CDC and Governor Lee and stay at home when possible.”
The statement was the latest in a series of measures aimed to reduce visitors to Sevier County during the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced closure of area attractions, restaurants, retail stores and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Earlier this month, city and county officials urged all non-essential businesses in the county to close and on March 27, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters asked visitors to put vacations on hold, saying, “…For the safety of your family and ours, please stay at home.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed to all visitors after 30,000 visitors per day flocked to the park and crowded trails, despite the park previously closing visitor centers, facilities, campgrounds, picnic areas and restrooms.
Simple searches found that businesses are using terms such as “social distancing” to specifically attract visitors to Sevier County vacation rentals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents voiced concerns on social media that visitors could bring the coronavirus to the area, compete with residents for vital supplies on store shelves, and may ultimately strain local healthcare resources.
As of March 31, the Tennessee Department of Health disclosed there are 2,239 cases of COVID-19 confirmed by testing statewide, including 23 fatalities. The agency lists only eight Sevier County residents with COVID-19 confirmed by testing, but will not disclose if any visitors to the county have tested positive. On its website, Tennessee residents with positive tests for COVID-19 are listed by county of residence, while all other cases are listed as “Non-Tennessee Resident” or “Unknown.”
On Monday, March 30, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order urging Tennesseans to stay at home, except for essential needs, and the closure of non-essential businesses. That order was in addition to earlier orders asking restaurants to close dining areas and use alternate business models of delivery or take out only.
Some Tennesseans have been critical of Governor Lee’s executive orders, saying that it was not within his power to order people to stay home or businesses to close.
Others say he hasn’t gone far enough to protect residents and minimize the spread of the coronavirus. Governors in other states have put more extreme measures in place to deter visitors.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended all vacation rentals in his state by executive order, penalizing violators with second-degree misdemeanor and loss of their vacation rental license. DeSantis also ordered visitors from high outbreak areas to self-quarantine for 14 days and set up check points on major roadways into the state to screen for visitors from those areas.
Meanwhile, the Sevierville Convention & Visitors Bureau is running an ad for Visitsevierville.com telling viewers that, “Right now is the time to stay home and stay healthy. The best view will be waiting for you.” The Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau is also running an ad, this one for Gatlinburg.com featuring a bear encouraging viewers to wash their paws and stay home.
Until the people responsible for this, like Cabins for You, for one, are fined, they will continue to invite this virus into Sevier Co. I hope they suffer for this after all of this is over. I hope people coming to the area will see that these people don’t even care for their own neighbors and refuse to stay with them.
Amen! Nothing but the truth 👆🏼
As a tourist to the great smokies im takingg this very serious and the comments that some are putting up. I for one want my fsmily safe as well as those in the area i visit. But… There are some whome out of their comments dont want us there at anytime from the remarks made public. It is you my friends that need to sit back and rethink these comments. Not everyone us the same… I truelly pray to God this will end and things can return to a somewhat norm. But seeing tge very disrespectful and hateful remarks can and will hurt your comunity. I am surely taking notes on places and comunities for future reference….
James, we love our tourists. We just want them to stay away at this time, not only for our safety but theirs, too. I’m glad you are making a note of places like this. I can’t for the life of me figure out why they are continuing to try to put our guests in danger. I don’t know what they expect these people to do if they do come to the area. NOTHING is open for them to do, not even to drive the loop at Cades Cove. I’m sure NOBODY wants to have to order in every meal or go pick it up and either eat it in the car or take it back to their room or cabin. Yes, a lot of people complain about the tourists, but maybe now, with all this going on and them seeing what it’s doing to this place, they will change their attitude. PLEASE COME BACK!!!!