According to the Louisville Tourism Bureau, Louisville attracts 19 million tourists each year.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nearly 80 million people visited the state last year, up 4.5 percent from the previous year, according to a new report on the state’s tourism industry.
The state is projected to receive a record $13.8 billion from tourism in 2023, with about a third of that coming from Jefferson County, according to the state’s most recent tourism economic report, released in March.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said Louisville has become a “world-class tourism destination,” adding that the city’s tourism industry brought in more than $4.2 billion last year.
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“People from all over the world take notice, visit our city and experience all we have to offer,” Greenberg said in last week’s weekly report, “but what makes Louisville even more special are the incredible people in our hospitality industry. [the] Success is possible!
The Louisville Tourism Bureau said the city welcomes 19 million visitors each year and aims to attract 25 million visitors by 2030.
“Louisville experienced record-breaking numbers across the local tourism industry in 2023, from passenger numbers at Muhammad Ali International Airport to attendance at the nation’s largest rock festival and area attractions boasting unparalleled visitor numbers,” said Cleo Battle, CEO and president of the Louisville Tourism Bureau.
A new report says more than 95,000 Kentuckians are employed in the tourism industry statewide.
More than 27,000 Jefferson County residents work in tourism-related jobs, according to the Kentucky Tourism Office.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said tourism remains an essential part of the state’s economy, and that this year marks the second consecutive year that tourism in Kentucky has broken records.
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