Tennessee works to get again to record-high tourism numbers

Overcoming COVID: A look into the future

by: Hayley Wielgus

Posted on Jan 21, 2021 / 03:55 PM CST
/. Updated: Jan 21, 2021 / 1:24 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WKRN) – From the most-visited national park in the country to historic live music venues that draw millions of people, tourism is Tennessee’s second largest industry.

After a decade of growth and a record year in 2019, 2020 should get even bigger by the time we hit COVID-19. Conventions have been canceled, journeys suspended and openings pushed back.

The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville was scheduled to open Labor Day 2020, but has been postponed until this month.

(Photo: WKRN)

“Doing this in a pandemic has certainly presented us with a number of challenges, but I think we have overcome them. We have a great team that has doubled in size and worked harder, ”said Henry Hicks, President and CEO of NMAAM.

The museum was expected to attract visitors from across the country, but as with the opening, this is likely to be delayed as well.

The US Travel Association predicts the travel industry in Tennessee will decline by 35 to 45 percent from 2019, when the state hit a record high of $ 23 billion in domestic and international travel spending.

The related sectors of government sales tax revenue have had great success. “We’re still looking to save about $ 250 million in the leisure and hospitality sectors due to the lack of business travelers and entertainment venues,” said Mark Ezell, commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Larger cities, including Nashville and Memphis, have suffered the most – especially when it comes to hotel stays, according to Ezell. The opposite is the case in East Tennessee, where tourists flock to socially distant outdoor attractions.

“There’s a demand for people to get out and see their families and take them and experience Tennessee,” Ezell said.

The Department of Tourist Development received $ 25 million in CARES Act funding to promote COVID-19 safe tourism in Tennessee.

In December, the US Small Business Administration received $ 15 billion through grants to shut down live entertainment venues.

“We may have up to 35 or 40 percent of the workforce still unemployed in this hospitality segment,” said Ezell. “We want to help these companies be open again, and we think we can do that with the vaccine. Then that’s tens of thousands of jobs that can be restored and help boost the Tennessee tourism dollars. ”

With the unique attractions Tennessee has to offer, more vaccines, and a positive outlook, there is optimism.

“This is a great time to open a museum even though we are in a pandemic because music has the ability to heal. It has the ability to bring us together and there is so much of it that we need it in the world today, ”said Dr. Dina Bennett, Curatorial Director of NMAAM.

Stick to News 2 for more information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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