Nashville International Airport is slated to receive a US$1 billion upgrade over the next five to seven years as the city itself continues to boom.

The project, named "BNA Vision" (BNA is the Nashville airport code), was announced Sunday on the heels of BNA recording 12 million visitors during the fiscal year that ended in June, shattering the old record by 10%.

"The projects comprising our BNA Vision are designed to meet the demands of this growth and address everything from international travel, to improved security wait times to more gates, parking and ease of access - all with passenger safety and convenience in mind," Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority COO Rob Wigington said.

The project is still in the general planning phase, but the airport authority envisions the construction of a new international arrivals building, as well as expansions of the airport's concourses B and D.

The ticketing and baggage claim areas are also to be enlarged. A 200- to 300-room airport hotel is in the offing. And in homage to Nashville's most famous country music hall, a new central entrance hall, called the Grand Ole Lobby, is to be built.

The project is expected to kick off with the international terminal and with construction of a six-story, 2,000-space parking garage, both of which are estimated for completion in 2018.

The airport authority projects the Nashville airport will serve 20 million people by 2035 as the city's metropolitan population increases to 2.5 million from an estimated 1.83 million in 2015.