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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced last week that the state’s tourism industry saw a record year in 2024, generating $14.3 billion in economic impact.
Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau Executive Director Janna Clark says 2024 was also a banner year for tourism in Hardin County, with numbers up four percent from the year prior.
“It represents $371 million, and probably the more important numbers are to consider that in Hardin County, tourism and hospitality supports 2,623 jobs, which is an incredible industry for our community,” Clark said.
A joint release from the E-Town and Radcliff/Fort Knox tourism offices says that tourism generated $29.7 million in tax revenue and $76.4 million in labor income for Hardin County in 2024.
Clark says the area is in “a total growth mode”, which tourism helps put on display.
“I think we’re seeing that, as people are continuing to visit our community to experience what we have to offer and also maybe put their eyeballs on our community to see if they might want to relocate here,” Clark said.
With projects such as the Buffalo Lake outdoor music venue on the horizon, Clark says tourism is not just about bringing visitors to the area.
“It’s about supporting our local businesses,” Clark said. “It’s about adding to the experiences that people have in our community, and I think there’s a role to play for everyone in our community, whether it is inviting your friends or relatives to come visit you, or to just be a friendly face when our visitors come to town.”
Visit www.kentuckytourism.com for more information on 2024 tourism numbers.
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