Bowling Green, Ky. - May 10, 2016 – The annual survey of tourism spending in Kentucky shows a 6.6 percent increase in Warren County in 2015, bringing the total to $413.4 million, up from $387.9 million in 2014. Of the nine state tourism regions, the 10-county Caves, Lakes & Corvettes region in which Warren is included saw the highest increase in direct tourism expenditures at 6.9 percent, equaling $422.5 million, adding an overall amount of $664.2 million in total expenditures to the region’s economy.
“We’re excited to hear this news and the Bowling Green area was home to many new things in 2015 that contributed to this success,” Vicki Fitch, Executive Director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said.
Bowling Green welcomed a new partnership with the Mid-South Conference to host many of its athletic championships. Several new motorsports events were held in the city, and with more publicity generated than ever before, events like the Danchuk Tri-Five Nationals and Camaro Fest contributed to the 1.1 million total visitors at Beech Bend Park. The schedule for the NCM Motorsports Park’s first calendar year was also booked.
Tourism is one of Kentucky’s top industries, with an annual economic impact in 2015 of more than $13.7 billion, an increase of 5 percent from 2014. The industry was responsible for 186,204 jobs, up 6,241 jobs from 2014. These jobs generated more than $3.1 billion in wages for Kentucky workers, an increase of $146 million from 2014.
Over $1.43 billion in tax revenues for local and state governments was generated by tourism in 2015 and all nine state tourism regions showed gains for 2015. The economic impact is released in the light of National Travel & Tourism Week, which was recognized May 1-7 this year.
The survey was produced for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet by Certec Inc. of Versailles. A full report of tourism economic impact study are available at www.kentuckytourism.com/industry. For more about Kentucky tourism, please visit www.kentuckytourism.com.
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