It's been a little more than one month since deadly wildfires ravaged Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and other areas of eastern Tennessee near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Already the words of encouragement local tourism officials provided travelers in the days after are paying off as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge appear to have experienced a much-needed rebound over the holiday season.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, despite lowered expectations in the wake of November's fires, many businesses within the tourist hotspots that emerged unscathed say they barely missed a beat during what is typically one of the region's busiest times of year.
The destruction of many rental properties located farther outside of downtown Gatlinburg likely contributed to a spike in hotel bookings, with the Gatlinburg Inn having been sold out the week after Christmas, per the News Sentinel.
"I think the Visitors Bureau did a great job of getting people to Gatlinburg and letting people know that there wasn't as much damage downtown," Sugarlands Distilling Co. assistant manager Reede Copeland told the News Sentinel.
"Hopefully, we'll continue to see tourism reach new heights that we haven't seen before in the city."
The Digital and Social Media Director at nearby Pigeon Forge's Chamber of Commerce also expressed optimism to the News Sentinel. Micah-Sage Bolden said she's confident that the resort town, home to Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park, experienced a surge in tourism business over the holidays.
[READMORE] READ MORE: How Travelers Can Help Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge Recover from Wildfires [/READMORE]
"I think it reflects the overwhelming support for our area and also the county's effort to bring in traffic during the winter," Bolden told the News Sentinel.
Dollywood was one of the area's top attractions that was fortunate to be spared in November's fires.
While tourism officials will have to wait to learn the official numbers for the all-important holiday season, it's clear the region has reason to be encouraged moving forward.
"If people just keep their plans and come, I think everything will be fine," Gatlinburg's Pancake Pantry restaurant's president Gary Myers told the News Sentinel. "People love Gatlinburg and they love to come here."
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