NASHVILLE (AP) - Large private vendors from outside Tennessee are touring some of the state's most visited parks to gauge their operations and potential for profit as Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration explores outsourcing their management.

The Commercial Appeal reports (http://bit.ly/1TRoYe2) that vendors like Aramark and Delaware North have toured several state parks to see what it would take to run inns, campgrounds, restaurants, marinas and golf courses.

While there has been months of planning and working with potential vendors, no one in Haslam's administration has led a public discussion about what could be a fundamental change in the way public colleges and universities, prisons, parks, hospital and other state buildings are operated.

The first inkling about the possible outsourcing came in a request for information posted a state website last week.