Tourism Increased Last Year in the State

Visitor spending and visitation growth both increased in Kentucky last year, according to a new study from Tourism Economics, the Kentucky Department of Tourism’s research partner. Visitor trips to and within the state eclipsed 71.6 million in 2018, with visitor spending climbing to almost $7.6 billion, a 3.7 percent increase over the prior year and a 21 percent increase since 2013. Using the Tourism Economics model, the economic impact of the tourism industry in Kentucky went from $10.9 billion in 2017 to $11.2 billion in 2018, generating more than 94,500 jobs and $787 million in state and local taxes. The Kentucky Department of Tourism says they continue to build upon Kentucky’s signature tourism industries of horses, bourbon, music, arts, outdoors and culinary to reach new audiences and position the Bluegrass state as a premier travel destination for visitors internationally and domestically.