Bowling Green, Ky.,—July 19, 2016—Executive Director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Vicki Fitch has been appointed as a tourism industry advisor to the General Assembly’s Subcommittee on Tourism Development. The subcommittee is a special committee of the legislature first established in 2015 and re-authorized for 2016.
Fitch is one of five tourism advisors appointed by Senate President Robert Stivers and Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo. The subcommittee is co-chaired by Senator Chris Girdler (R) Somerset and Rep. Rita Smart (D) Richmond. In addition to the co-chairs, the subcommittee is comprised of 12 members of the Kentucky Senate and House.
“This is a great opportunity to interact directly with legislators who have a specific interest in further developing Kentucky’s tourism,” Fitch said.
The subcommittee, which meets monthly during the legislature’s interim period, hears testimony from various tourism interests from throughout Kentucky, discusses issues confronting Kentucky tourism and is authorized to make recommendations to the General Assembly. President Stivers has credited last year’s panel with initiating the process that ultimately resulted in the legislature’s appropriation of $18 million for upgrading Kentucky’s state parks.
“The establishment and re-authorization of the Subcommittee on Tourism Development is clear evidence of the legislature’s increasing awareness of the important contributions that tourism makes to Kentucky’s economy. It also represents a means through which the General Assembly can identify ways to increase those contributions,” Hank Phillips, President & CEO of the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA), said. “KTIA is especially pleased that the subcommittee includes top notch professionals from the travel industry as advisors.”
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Contact: Telia Butler, PR Director, Bowling Green Area CVB; telia@visitbgky.com; 270-782-0800