For Immediate Release
Contact:
Kelly Barron, Radcliff/Ft. Knox Tourism and Convention Commission 270-352-1204
Sherry Murphy, Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau 270-765-2175
Tourism Economic Impact Increased 6.2 Percent in 2014
Elizabethtown, Ky. (May 5, 2015) Statistics released by the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet show that the economic impact of Kentucky’s tourism and travel industry for 2014 was more than $13 billion, an increase of 4.4 percent over the previous year.
Tourism was responsible for 179,963 jobs in Kentucky in 2014, an increase of 4,217 jobs from the previous year. These jobs generated more than $2.9 billion in wages for Kentucky workers, an increase of $123 million from 2013.
"The economic impact from tourism in Kentucky has increased by more than $2.2 billion and 13,000 jobs over the last five years," Gov. Steve Beshear said. "That translates to more spending and jobs in small and large communities across the state. I'm proud that our work with the tourism industry has been so successful."
All nine tourism regions showed gains for 2014. Hardin County is included in the largest of the nine regions, the Bourbon, Horses, and History Region. The direct economic impact for Tourism in Hardin County was up by 6.2% in 2014 over 2013.
Hardin County remained the seventh highest income-producing county in the state in direct impact from tourism, broadening its lead over Owensboro/Daviess County, which opened a convention center in January 2014. Local tourism impact was $200,096,354 in direct expenditures in 2014. Hardin County’s tourism industry increased over $11 million in expenditures over 2013.
“As we enjoy the overwhelming economic impact the Elizabethtown Sports Park has had on Hardin County, we continue to work toward diversifying our tourism offerings. We expect the economic impact figures to rise over the next few years as we partner with other organizations and private developers to work on revitalizing our downtown area,” said Sherry Murphy, Executive Director of the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau.
“This phenomenal increase is due in large part to a rise in the transient population on Fort Knox, the Elizabethtown Sports Park, the myriad of tourism attractions that this area has to offer as well as the successful marketing and promotional efforts of both the Radcliff and Elizabethtown Tourism Commissions,” said Kelly Barron, Executive Director of the Radcliff/Ft. Knox Convention and Tourism Commission.
The survey was produced for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet by Certec Inc. of Versailles. More details about the tourism economic impact study are available at www.kentuckytourism.com/industry.
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