Kentucky sets tourism records for 3rd straight year

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – 2024 was yet another record-breaking year for tourism in Kentucky… as Governor Andy Beshear stopped by the Louisville Slugger Museum to announce this:

“Last year, 2024, was the best year for tourism in the history of Kentucky.”

This announcement made in front of the Big Bat is the third year in a row that Kentucky has broken the record… but it’s not just Louisville or Lexington that are the main contributors to the cause.

“Warren County again broke records in tourism… so that means that with the work of all of our partners, all of our attractions, all of our local businesses and the work here at the visitors bureau, we’ve had a really great year in really getting tourism up and having more positive momentum from last year, which is amazing because the past few years we’ve been breaking records… so we’re so excited to hear that we broke another record again this year,” Carrie Cavitt, the Community Relations Coordinator for the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau says.

One of the main things that contributed to that boost is the growth of the community.

“Well, we know that we had about 4,000 jobs created this year in comparison to last year, so that’s really great… and that’s because of all the new businesses that are opening up all the attractions and all the growth that we’ve experienced in the past,” Cavitt says.

The governor says even after three record breaking years in a row, the work for the commonwealth is not done just yet.

“We can’t rest. We want to break it next year and the year after that to make sure we keep this streak going, because we know that helps put food on the table for more and more and more of our families. Today is a great day… in the midst of a lot of craziness that’s out there, we’re here together celebrating something special that helps all of our people. Life’s short. Our job is to do good things and to be kind to each other… and we’ve succeeded in both today,” Beshear says.