“I feel like if this situation isn’t seriously addressed, it will have a long-term negative effect on Asheville and its many businesses that rely on tourism.”
Tag: tourism
Showing 1-21 of 138 results
Letter: Ask TDA to support homes for workers
“But we can directly help our county’s workers, the people who drive our tourism economy — and thus drive contributions to the TDA’s coffers — by asking the TDA to give some money back to build housing for such workers.”
Letter: How to pay for downtown remedies
“The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is sitting on millions of dollars in its coffers and should spend some of its money making downtown Asheville the tourism haven that it promises it is in all of its marketing efforts, but their promise is currently not delivered.”
Year in Review: Development and tourism remain hot topics
Community members weigh in on the impact of visitors and “progress” throughout 2022.
Letter: Dreaming small at McCormick Field
“I don’t want to get all Field of Dreams on people’s asses, but we need not even build anything new or flashy to get the people to come.”
Can Asheville draw on the past to build its future?
“Today, Asheville’s a tourist destination fueled by wealth-take-all capitalism beset with growing urban issues such as parking, pollution, land use, development, affordable housing, crime and allocation of tax revenues. Yet are all these intractable problems with only temporary solutions? Not really.”
Letter: Will leaf peepers visit WNC to see kudzu turn gray?
“What happens when our beautiful fall colors provided by the hardwood trees are increasingly overtaken and killed off by kudzu?”
Was U.S. Open cash drop the best use of tax dollars?
“Our leaders are allowing dubious choices like spending $1.3 million on vague ads and luxury VIP suites in New York City, while Asheville’s homeless situation is ever more disturbing.”
TDA discusses tourism ‘paradox’ at annual meeting
The event, hosted by Explore Asheville, featured presentations on the tensions between the cost and benefits of Asheville’s increased visitations.
Under the big top
TDA seeks to boost Black Asheville travelers
Leaders at the Explore Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau are looking for new approaches to put the city on the map as a diverse destination by tapping into Asheville’s rich Black history and Black entrepreneurs.
Letter: Spend occupancy taxes on our community
“I think it would be a ridiculous waste of revenue to stop collecting a tax that visitors are used to paying. But it certainly should be used to benefit the community and keep it the strong, wonderful place that people would like to visit.”
Letter: Use occupancy taxes to address climate crisis
“I support Commissioners Brownie Newman and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara’s calls for the occupancy tax to be used for community needs vs. more tourism marketing.”
Why would you say that?
Letter: Tourism survey raises questions
“Shame on the Tourism Development Authority for thinking we residents are so easily duped.”
Letter: On improving downtown Asheville
“The problems sound enormous and hopeless, and I’m an optimist. But some cities have found solutions.”
Letter: Tourists, the lifeblood of our community?
“Leaders shouldn’t be so focused on turning our area into an amusement park for those with disposable cash to drop on lodging and entertainment.”
Year in Review: Residents and local leaders reflect on Asheville’s growth and tourism
With growth comes worsening traffic, rising housing costs and long lines of tourists waiting at locally beloved bars and restaurants. But it’s not all bad, as 2021’s Year In Review participants note in their reflections on Asheville’s development and tourism sector. These residents and local leaders shared their growth gripes and hopes as they look forward to the coming year.
Letter: Capital of WNC has problems
“Moving out of this mess in 30 days. Y’all can have it. Going somewhere clean and quiet.”
TDA holds in-person annual meeting
More than 180 guests attended the event at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Letter: A message from the heavens about Asheville
“One way or another, the Great Being in the Sky will persuade people, mostly Floridians, that Asheville isn’t the haven they once expected.”