NASHVILLE – Lonely Planet announced today that Nashville is one of ten cities around the world it has named as part of its Best in Travel 2016 collection of top destinations to visit in the upcoming year (#BestinTravel). The list, compiled by the world’s leading travel media company, ranked Kotor, Montenegro at No. 1. Nashville came in at No. 9 and is the only city in the United States to make the list.
“It is great to see that Lonely Planet recognizes that the unique culture and welcoming atmosphere of Nashville makes our city a premier tourist destination for travelers the world over,” Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said. “The visitors who choose to vacation or convene in Nashville help to keep our city thriving while also contributing to our economic vitality. From the world-class Music City Center, to our one-of-a-kind music scene, to our growing list of fantastic restaurants, Nashville is a wonderful, creative place to live, work and play.”
Lonely Planet says: “Country music is still the heart and soul of Music City, but poke your head outside the honky-tonks of lower Broadway and you’ll notice new sounds in the air: the grind of construction work, excited chatter at the latest restaurant or art gallery opening and the energetic thrum of new business.” The city’s appeal to young people, its dining scene and its creative class are also cited. Jack White, Warby Parker, Otis James, the Lane Motor Museum and Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack are name-checked in a four-page spread.
“Nashville has established itself as a shining example of economic and cultural growth,” said Dora Whitaker, Managing Destination Editor at Lonely Planet based out of Lonely Planet’s headquarters in Franklin, Tenn. “It continues to draw both start-ups and big name-brands looking to expand, and seemingly overnight, it’s become one of America’s hottest dining destinations, with a particular focus on local ingredients and reinventing classic regional recipes. 2016 promises to be another exciting year for the city, with its perennial event favorites, such as the CMAs, and newer ones, like the 4th annual Music City Food + Wine Festival.”
Along with Top 10 Cities, Lonely Planet also announced today its Top 10 Countries and Top 10 Regions. Botswana was ranked No. 1 on the Top 10 Countries list, with the United States coming in third. Transylvania, Romania was named the Top Region with Hawaii ranked No. 7.
The lists draw on the knowledge, passion and thousands of miles traveled by Lonely Planet’s editors, authors and community to recommend the top destinations to visit in the year ahead. Destinations are scored for topicality, excitement and x-factor.
All three lists are featured in the Best in Travel 2016 book and on the Lonely Planet website. They are part of the inaugural issue of Lonely Planet’s new U.S. magazine, Lonely Planet, which will hit the newsstands on Nov. 3. The magazine also will include a “What to eat in Nashville” article.
Top 10 Cities
1. Kotor, Montenegro
2. Quito, Ecuador
3. Dublin, Ireland
4. George Town, Malaysia
5. Rotterdam, the Netherlands
6. Mumbai, India
7. Fremantle, Australia
8. Manchester, UK
9. Nashville, USA
10. Rome, Italy
Top 10 Countries
1. Botswana
2. Japan
3. USA
4. Palau
5. Latvia
6. Australia
7. Poland
8. Uruguay
9. Greenland
10. Fiji
Top 10 Regions
1. Transylvania, Romania
2. West Iceland
3. Valle de Vinales, Cuba
4. Friuli’s wine regions, Italy
5. Waiheke Island, New Zealand
6. The Auvergne, France
7. Hawaii, USA
8. Bavaria, Germany
9. Costa Verde, Brazil
10. St Helena, British Territories
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel media company, providing inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, Lonely Planet has cultivated a dedicated traveler community and printed over 130 million books in 13 different languages to almost every destination on the planet. The Lonely Planet ecosystem also includes digital and mobile apps, a comprehensive ebook collection, an award-winning website and Lonely Planet, its U.S. magazine launching November 2015. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com, and join us on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet and #lp) and Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet).
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVC’s website at www.visitmusiccity.com, tune in to our internet radio station at www.highway65radio.com, and follow us on social media:
