Tourism impact continues to grow with record-breaking visitor spending
Christian County, KY – Visitor spending and visitation growth have broken records once again in Christian County, according to a report released by the Kentucky Department of Tourism.
Economic impact figures show that visitors to the area spent $237.19 million in 2022, which is $25 million more than the $212.9 million record previously set in 2021.
“We are once again elated to see record-breaking numbers for tourism in Christian County,” said Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brooke Jung. “We are constantly hearing from visitors what wonderful experiences they have while exploring all facets of our community, and these numbers definitely reflect just that. We look forward to continuing the promotion of all that Hopkinsville & Christian County has to offer.”
Jung noted a continued interest in craft bourbon distilleries, destination weddings, business travelers, festival-goers and general vacation travelers, as well as the ongoing interest in the Batter Capital of the World initiative, attributed to the monumental growth.
“We are once again thrilled to see such a large increase in tourism spending.” said Oak Grove Tourism Commission Executive Director, Traci Cunningham. “Oak Grove has certainly seen record breaking attendance in our Award-Winning festivals which has contributed to the economic impact numbers. Oak Grove Racing and Gaming is also one of the many attractions in our community that has impacted the tourism industry. We hear from visitors from all over what a great experience they have in Oak Grove and how they intend to spread the word. I can’t think of anything that excites me more than the tourism industry and the 2022 economic impact numbers in Christian County. We will continue to do our part in promoting a community full of southern hospitality and making sure all visitors continue to have a wonderful experience.”
Not only did Christian County see an increase in tourism spending, but also in employment. A total of 1,791 tourism-related jobs were reported county-wide in the hospitality sector, up from 1,649 in 2021, generating $45.85 million in labor income. In addition, tourism in Christian County contributed $15.7 million in state and local taxes. Using the Tourism Economics model, the economic impact of the tourism industry in Kentucky generated $12.9 billion in visitor spending in 2022, supporting more than 91,668 jobs and $936.7 million in state and local taxes.
