Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
National Travel and Tourism Week May 9-17 Celebrated in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – To emphasize the importance of the tourism industry, several attractions and tourism offices will be taking part in National Travel and Tourism Week May 9-17.

Tourism has an economic impact of more than $10 billion annually in Kentucky and is one of the major employers in the state.

“This is a good time of year to point out what an important role tourism plays in our state economy,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Marcheta Sparrow. “We’ve just completed another successful Kentucky Derby celebration and our summer vacation season with great attractions across the state is just a few weeks away.”

Communities across Kentucky will be celebrating the week with events and ceremonies.

Here is a listing of some of the events planned as part of National Travel and Tourism Week:

• The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau will kick-off its Hometown Tourist Celebration on May 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the Visitors Center at 4^th and Jefferson streets in downtown Louisville.  This annual event encourages area families to visit attractions that participate with discounts and special offers from May 9-30.

• The Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitor’s Bureau will hold a rally for tourism industry workers on May 13 on the Purple People Bridge from noon to 12:30 p.m.

• Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park near Mount Olivet will offer free admission to its Pioneer Museum to residents from Robertson, Nicholas and Fleming counties from May 9-17.

• The Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky will offer a buy one, get one night free deal during May 9-17. Visit www.kentuckybb.com and look under “current news” for details.

• TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky (TOUR SEKY) will celebrate National Tourism Week on May 12 when it hosts “A Region Under Construction” luncheon from 11:30-1:30 at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. TOUR SEKY will award funds to winning communities for C.I.T.Y. (Community Initiatives in Tourism for You) and Let’s Paint the Town, downtown revitalization programs.

• The Woodford County Tourist Commission will honor local tourism efforts and recognize the week with a public reception on May 11 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Woodford County Courthouse in Versailles. 

•  The eight state Welcome Centers will be holding special events including safety demonstrations, artisan displays and presentations from area tourist attractions during the week. The centers, based along interstate entrances to the state, are located near Shepherdsville, Shelbyville, Hopkinsville, Florence, Franklin, Grayson, Paducah and Williamsburg.

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