Nashville residents are . . . kind of sick of tourists. Perhaps very sick of tourists. Increased traffic downtown, a 24/7 party culture, rising housing costs – it all contributes to the sense that Nashville as a city is prioritizing tourism and business interests over the wellbeing of the people who live here.
However, tourism is a real economic force, and living in a city that’s cool enough that so many people want to visit can be a source of pride for many. In this episode, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of tourism in Nashville, and what can be done to make it better for everyone. Plus, we’ll ride the Nash Trash tour bus, and take a walk through the Opryland Hotel.
But first, Metro Council approved funding for a new Titans Stadium last week. We’ll sit down with Stephen Elliott from the Nashville Post to discuss how we got here, and what this means for the future of tourism in our city.
This episode was produced by Rose Gilbert.
Special thanks to Celia Gregory.
Guests:
- Stephen Elliott, interim editor of the Nashville Post and political writer for the Post and Nashville Scene
- Sheri Lynn and Brenda Kaye, founders and tourguides at NashTrash tours
- Tom Morales, restaurateur behind Loveless Cafe and Acme Feed & Seed
- Amanda Smithfield, Hume-Fogg High School librarian extraordinaire
- Q Taylor, managing partner and co-owner of Sinema and Eighth & Roast, member of Tourism and Convention Commission
- Abbey Moss, server working two jobs downtown
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