LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The numbers are in. Last year, tourism in Kentucky generated an economic impact of $13.8 billion, of which $4.2 billion came from Louisville alone.
What you need to know
- Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, said Louisville tourism generated more than $4 billion in economic impact in 2023.
- A visitor from Wisconsin said she loves the city, especially the downtown area.
- Among the city’s staples is the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, which welcomes more than 300,000 visitors a year.
- 2023 was the best year on record for Kentucky tourism, according to its most recent report
- Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, said Louisville tourism generated more than $4 billion in economic impact in 2023.
- A visitor from Wisconsin said she loves the city, especially the downtown area.
- Among the city’s staples is the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, which welcomes more than 300,000 visitors a year.
- 2023 was the best year on record for Kentucky tourism, according to its most recent report
Laura Laurenzi, a Wisconsin native, said she was visiting Louisville to visit family and attend a graduation.
“It’s really cool to see how they make bats and how they find the wood, the types of wood,” said Laurenzi, a native of Madison, Wisconsin, who spent time at the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum.
He said he loves Louisville and there are several reasons he keeps coming back.
“People, of course, and friends,” he said. “It is a wonderful center. “We are looking forward to spending more time there and exploring all the new shops and distilleries.”
Andrew Soliday, marketing director for the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, said the economic impact the city sees as a result of tourism benefits everyone.
“It benefits the businesses that are attracted to the city and the development that occurs,” Soliday said. “These are the things that will drive us forward.”
Soliday said the museum receives more than 300,000 visitors a year.
“We love being one of the main attractions in our city,” he said. “Obviously, you can’t go to every city and see the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum.”
“We are very proud to be truly authentic to Louisville, Kentucky, authentic to the state of Kentucky and authentic to Jefferson County.”
Kentucky Peerless Distilling also welcomes visitors from all over the United States and the world. It opened in 2015 and said it continues to grow.
“I think the bourbon industry has just exploded so much… we’re seeing huge, huge growth in tourism, (the) number of people coming,” said Christina Vassallo, marketing manager for Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. “We “I’ve had to open up new experiences here for people who just walk in the door without reservation. It’s been amazing.”
2023 was the best year on record for tourism in Kentucky, according to its most recent report.
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