Bruce Schreiner, The Associated Press
15 minutes ago
Kentucky United States state flag waving on flagpole, sunrise, fog (Getty Images)
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s tourism industry maintained its record growth rate in 2023, generating nearly $14 billion in economic impact while maintaining nearly 100,000 jobs, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday.
The Democratic governor said tourism has maintained momentum as a key contributor to Kentucky’s economic growth even after the pandemic, with visitors spending $9.7 billion in the Bluegrass State last year.
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“We welcome people to our new home in Kentucky, a place full of opportunity and prosperity,” Gov. Beshear said at his weekly press conference. “We want them to see what we have to offer, and then we want them to move their families here and be a part of it.”
The Governor met with tourism industry leaders at Castle & Key Distillery to celebrate Kentucky’s record-breaking tourism industry for the second consecutive year, as the industry rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic to generate nearly $13 billion in economic impact and create 91,668 jobs in 2022.
Beshear said last year was even stronger, with tourism generating $13.8 billion in statewide economic output and the sector supporting 95,222 jobs. He said a Tourism Economics study projects that 79.3 million travelers will visit Kentucky in 2023, up 4.5% from the previous year.
Kentucky’s attractions include horse farms and bourbon distilleries, as well as outdoor adventures, history, arts and cultural attractions. Kentucky is also home to Mammoth Cave National Park.
Bourbon tourism is booming: More than 2.5 million people visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and its craft tours of small distilleries last year. Bourbon tourists tend to spend more and stay longer than in other destinations, according to the bourbon industry.
“With distilleries now in 42 counties, bourbon tourism is revitalizing Main Streets across the state and bringing much-needed revenue to local coffers, with more to come,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distilled Spirits Association.
Liquor makers have invested heavily in new and expanded visitor centers to highlight the industry’s traditions and allow visitors to immerse themselves in the sights and aromas of bourbon production.
Communities across Kentucky saw strong tourism numbers last year.
Beshear said Jefferson County, which includes the state’s largest city, Louisville, had a $4.2 billion economic impact from tourism last year. In Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, just south of Cincinnati, tourism had a combined economic impact of $2.1 billion, he said. In Fayette County, home to Lexington, the state’s second-largest city, it was $1.6 billion. In Warren County, tourism generated $477 million in its economy, and in McCracken County it generated $319 million.
Tourism Commissioner Mike Manjot thanked tourism officials across the state and the thousands of workers in the leisure and hospitality industry for contributing to the success of the industry, saying tour guides, restaurant staff and hotel receptionists were “ambassadors on the front lines.”
