Tourism in Kentucky experiences a substantial boost, with Northern Kentucky playing a crucial role, as a new record is set in 2024.
Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties, located in northern Kentucky, played a significant role in the state's tourism industry in 2024. The counties generated a combined labor income of $603 million and created 12,997 tourism jobs, contributing to an economic impact of $2.25 billion [1].
These counties are part of a region closely connected geographically and economically, with Boone County located at the northernmost tip along the Ohio River [3]. The stable local economies of Boone and Campbell counties, as indicated by relatively low unemployment rates, further highlight the region's positive economic conditions [5].
Tourism statewide in Kentucky was thriving pre-2020, with a value of $7.6 billion in 2019. However, specific recent tourism data or economic contributions broken down by these counties were not found [2].
In 2024, Kentucky tourism generated a total economic impact of $14.3 billion, with $10.1 billion spent by travelers, marking a 3.8% increase over 2023 [4]. Northern Kentucky was ranked #2 in the state for tourism impact, second only to Louisville.
The tourism industry in Northern Kentucky supported 97,394 jobs across the state in 2024, with sectors such as food and beverage, transportation, retail, recreation and entertainment, and lodging seeing significant spending. $2.6 billion was spent on food and beverage, $1.9 billion on transportation, $1.9 billion on retail, $1.3 billion on recreation and entertainment, and $2.4 billion on lodging [4].
Two new hotels, Candlewood Suites in Erlanger and Drury Inn & Suites in Florence, contributed to a 2.2% increase in hotel room supply in Northern Kentucky [6]. The Florence Y'alls' operations are also supported by tourism, according to Max Johnson, their General Manager [7].
The partnership between meetNKY and Visit Cincy under the visitor brand and message, the Cincy Region, drew about 4 million digital visitors in 2024. This partnership led to more international and domestic media coverage, new airline routes, and unique events like the America's River Roots Festival [8].
The tourism sector in Northern Kentucky also showed strong performance in terms of hotel occupancy, with a rate of 65.4% in March, above the national average of 63% [9].
Karin Thomas, Supervisor of Commercial Laundry at Hotel Covington, emphasizes the importance of tourism to the local economy, while Rick Menninger, senior sales manager with BB Riverboats, highlights the role of tourism in employment and community growth [10].
For the latest and precise tourism statistics and economic impacts by county for Boone, Campbell, and Kenton, consulting the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet or the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce websites, or relevant county economic development offices, would be necessary [1].
References:
- Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
- Kentucky Tourism, Economy, and Labor Market Information
- Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation
- Kentucky Tourism, Economic Impact Report 2024
- Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
- Hotel News Now
- Florence Y'alls
- Cincy Region
- Strategic Hotels & Resorts
- BB Riverboats
Read also:
- Construction company Newkirk Novak issued a Public Notice in relation to the Clean Water Act
- Cost of Sending a 5kg Package via Royal Mail: Rates for Mid-Weight Shipping
- Latest Updates in Electric Vehicles, Batteries, and Charging Infrastructure: BMW and the Workhorse Group Make Headlines
- Aeroflot airline plans to implement direct flights from Yekaterinburg to Nachang.
