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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Tourism Economic Impact in Kentucky was $11.3 Billion in 2010
Figure represents an almost five percent increase since previous year, 2,600 more jobs created
FRANKFORT, Ky.—The economic impact of tourism in Kentucky amounted to $11.3 billion in 2010, Governor Steve Beshear and Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow announced today. The economic impact figure is a 4.8 percent increase from 2009.
“Thanks to events like the World Equestrian Games and the many other excellent tourism attractions we have in Kentucky, our state is benefitting with jobs, wages and tax revenue,” Gov. Beshear said. “This study is encouraging and shows how important the tourism industry is to our communities and the entire state.”
The release of the figures coincides with National Travel and Tourism Month, celebrated May 7-14 this year. “Kentucky’s central location and the variety of attractions continue to help us weather the economic downturn,” said Sparrow, who made the announcement at the Kentucky Tourism Industry Association Tourism Development Symposium in Cave City today. “Tourism provides jobs for Kentuckians and supports a variety of businesses across the state.”
The annual survey also showed that tourism was responsible for 169,258 jobs in Kentucky in 2010 – an increase of 2,657 from the previous year. These jobs generated more than $2.5 billion in wages for Kentucky workers, an increase of $118 million from the previous year. Tourism generated $1.188 billion in tax revenues for local and state governments in 2010, an increase from $1.133 billion in 2009. Eight of the nine tourism regions showed gains for 2010. Urban areas of the state showed strong recovery from the economic downtown of the last few years.
Travel and Tourism Commissioner Mike Cooper, whose agency oversees travel marketing for Kentucky, said he was pleased with the economic impact figures. “Tourism is important to Kentucky and this report illustrates why,” Cooper said. “This is good news for our industry as we begin the summer travel season.”
The report was produced by Certec Inc. of Versailles. For more details about the economic impact study, including county level expenditures, visit www.kentuckytourism.com/industry and click on research.
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