According to recently released figures from the U.S. Travel Association’s Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties Report, tourism and travel-related expenditures in DeKalb County are continuing to grow at a good pace.The latest report shows DeKalb County is up 4.6 percent and ranks third in terms of travel-related expenditures in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region.Travel-related expenditures for DeKalb County rose to $36.32 million dollars.According to the report, over 3 million people visited Center Hill Lake last year, and DeKalb ranked third in the region in terms of travel-related expenditures, behind Putnam and Cumberland counties.The study reflects the 2011 estimates of the impact of traveler spending in DeKalb County, as well as the employment, payroll income, and tax revenue directly generated by this spending.Chamber of Commerce Director Suzanne Williams said she is excited and encouraged by the news.“We are very appreciative of all the efforts and benefits that our local businesses and event organizers are providing for our visitors as shown by the increase in tourism dollars coming to our area,” Williams said.“We look forward to more opportunities as the new downtown Evins Park Open-Air Stage becomes available for our 2013 tourist season. We are also excited about the downtown Smithville revitalization efforts which will encourage more tourism and local shopping to our downtown area,” she concluded.