Tourism economic impact in Kentucky nearly USD11.7 billion in 2011

FRANKFORT, Kentucky – “Despite a tough economy, the Kentucky tourism industry continues to shine,” Governor Steve Beshear said.

FRANKFORT, Kentucky – “Despite a tough economy, the Kentucky tourism industry continues to shine,” Governor Steve Beshear said. The economic impact of tourism in Kentucky amounted to nearly US$11.7 billion in 2011.

Governor Beshear and Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow announced today that the economic impact figure is a 3 percent increase from 2010. “These figures underscore the importance of tourism in Kentucky, as well as in every community across the Commonwealth,” the Governor stated.

The release of the figures coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week, celebrated May 5-13 this year.

“The state’s ‘There’s Only One’ tourism promotion campaign points out the unique tourism attractions we have in Kentucky, which is part of the reason our tourism industry continues to grow,” said Sparrow, who made the announcement in Louisville, “Tourism supports jobs for Kentuckians and businesses of all kinds across the state.”

The annual survey also showed that tourism was responsible for 169,932 jobs in Kentucky in 2011 – a small increase from the previous year. These jobs generated more than US$2.6 billion in wages for Kentucky workers, an increase of US$76 million from the previous year. Tourism generated US$1.22 billion in tax revenues for local and state governments in 2011, an increase from US$1.19 billion in 2010. All 9 tourism regions showed gains for 2011.

Madeline Abramson, wife of Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, took part in a ceremony with Sparrow and Acting Travel Commissioner Hank Phillips at the Belle of Louisville and presented them with a proclamation from the Governor in honor of Travel and Tourism Week.

“We think our campaign and the hard work of the tourism industry will continue to help us grow through 2012,” said Phillips, whose agency oversees Kentucky’s travel marketing, “Kentucky is a great place to visit, and we look forward to getting that message out.”

The report was produced by Certec Inc. of Versailles. For more details about the economic impact study, including county-level expenditures, visit www.kentuckytourism.com/industry and click on research.

The Department of Travel and Tourism also announced today that 13 tourism sites are being added to the original 31 “There’s Only One” sites announced in January. These sites went through an application process and will be listed on the department’s website. They are:

Ale-8-One, Winchester
American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville
American Saddlebred Museum, Lexington
Beer Cheese Festival, Winchester
Creation Museum, Petersburg
Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington
Kentucky Bourbon Trail, central Kentucky
Kentucky Down Under, Horse Cave
KentuckyShow!, Louisville
Pikeville Cut Through Project, Pikeville
Portal 31 Exhibition Mine, Benham
The Great American Dollhouse Museum, Danville
The Stephen Foster Story, Bardstown

To learn more about the “There’s Only One” listing and other Kentucky Tourism sites, visit www.kentuckytourism.com .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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