The Kentucky Department of Tourism announced that visitor spending and growth increased across the state in 2018, including in Christian, Todd and Trigg counties.
According to a news release from the department, visitor trips to the Commonwealth topped 71.6 million in 2018, with visitor spending climbing to nearly $7.6 billion, a 3.7 percent increase over the prior year and 21 percent increase since 2013.
In Christian County, total visitor spending in 2018 was $192.8 million, up approximately $10 million in spending from 2017. It might seem surprising to see that number grow from 2017, which was the year of the total solar eclipse, but Hopkinsville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Brooke Jung says it shows people are continuing to visit the community and take advantage of the attractions here.
She says the tourism industry only continues to grow locally and money that’s spent here often stays here, benefiting local businesses and other economic development.
Todd County saw a spending growth from $3.5 million in 2017 to $4 million in 2018, while Trigg County saw growth in the form of $25.6 million in 2018, up from $24.8 million in 2017.
McCracken County led the region with $262 million in total visitor spending in 2018, which was down from $267 million in 2017. Christian County was second in the region, followed by Marshall County and Hopkins County at $74 million in 2018.