Tourism impact continues to grow with record breaking visitor spending
Christian County, KY – Visitor spending and visitation growth are on the rise throughout Christian County, according to a report released by the Kentucky Department of Tourism.
Economic impact figures show that visitors to the area spent $212.9 million in 2021, which is over $20 million more than the $192.89 million record previously set in 2018.
“These numbers are a direct reflection of our incredible tourism destinations and hospitality partners in Christian County and the impact they have on drawing visitors to our community,” said Hopkinsville Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brooke Jung. “We love seeing these record-breaking numbers, and are constantly hearing from visitors what wonderful experiences they have while exploring all facets of our community. These numbers show what a huge impact tourism has on Hopkinsville & Christian County”
In August 2021, Hopkinsville was declared the Batter Capital of the World, Jung attributes some of the success to this new branding initiative and the excitement surrounding this unique designation.
“We are thrilled to see such a large increase in tourism spending,” said Oak Grove Tourism Commission Executive Director, Traci Cunningham. “The events we are hosting in Oak Grove are seeing record attendance and we could not be more excited to see those numbers translate to visitor spending. I can’t think of anything that excites us more than the tourism industry and the economic impact in Christian County. Together Brooke and I strive to make Hopkinsville, Oak Grove and Christian County a destination to be proud of. There is no doubt these numbers prove tourism is a huge business and we can’t be prouder.”
After opening its doors in Fall of 2020, Oak Grove Racing and Gaming has also contributed to the increase of visitor spending in the community. Coupled with the increase of events held throughout Christian County, and the increase in development, visitation has continued to grow.
Not only did Christian County see an increase in tourism spending, but also in employment. A total of 1,649 tourism-related jobs were reported county-wide in the hospitality sector generating $40.4 million in labor income. In addition, tourism in Christian County contributed $14.4 million in state and local taxes.
Using the Tourism Economics model, the economic impact of the tourism industry in Kentucky generated $11.2 billion in visitor spending in 2021, supporting more than 83,081 jobs and $807.9 million in state and local taxes.
###
For additional information regarding tourism please contact Brooke Jung, Executive Director,
Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 270-887-2300 or [email protected] or
Traci Cunningham, Executive Director Oak Grove Tourism Commission
at 270-439-5675 or [email protected]
