Published: September 07, 2007 05:10 pm      

Tourism still a bright spot in 2007

Mounce says Lake Cumberland still focal point of area tourism

Somerset — The numbers aren’t yet in for 2007 — the first year Pulaski County experienced the effects of a lowered Lake Cumberland — but if figures from 2006 are any indication, tourism remains a strong source of income for the county.

Tourism in Pulaski County increased 8 percent in 2006 and added $90,420,243 to the county’s economy, according to statistics released by the Kentucky Department of Tourism in July.

“These numbers clearly show, in dollars and cents, how valuable tourism is to Pulaski County and all other counties in Kentucky,” says Randy Fiveash, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

“The tourism money that is spent in our communities circulates several times into the area economy. That means more people benefit, and more jobs are created.”

Pulaski County’s numbers are part of an overall 6.6 percent statewide increase in tourism in 2006, which equates to $10.1 billion being added to the state’s economy.

Out of surrounding counties in Kentucky’s “southern lakes region” — which includes Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne — Pulaski County experienced the sixth largest growth percentage from 2005 to 2006. Over the last three years, from 2003 to 2006, Pulaski County has had the fourth largest growth percentage.

“We have worked hard here in Pulaski County to attract more visitors to the area,” says Carolyn Mounce, executive director of the Somerset-Pulaski Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Thanks to strong local leadership and the beauty of Pulaski County, we’ve been successful. We are looking forward to even more growth in the future.”

Mounce lists several local events which she believes has helped the county’s tourism numbers — Somernites Cruise, SomerSplash water park, the Master Musicians Festival, and the Sinking Valley and Cedar Creek wineries, to name a few.

“Haney’s Appledale Farm and the Mill Springs Battlefield are also great attractions,” she adds.

“In the fall, Bear Wallow Farm is a great destination for children and families. But we must never leave out our beautiful lake. It remains our focal point.”

Last fiscal year, the CVB contributed more than $50,000 toward the promotion of the above-mentioned events, along with ShoutFest, the 15 Miles Plus Yard Sale, Burnside’s Catfish Festival, the Cool Run, the Cave Hill Bluegrass Festival, and more.

Fiveash says the state’s Department of Tourism now plans to work with officials in Pulaski and other counties to determine how to continue to increase the number of visitors who come to Kentucky in the future.

“Not only do our visitors take in the beauty of our Commonwealth, they also spend money in our restaurants, hotels and motels, gas stations, and retail stores. Every business in the community benefits from tourism dollars,” he says.

The statistics, compiled by the Travel Industry Association, show 176,900 people statewide are employed in a tourism-related field, earning more than $3.36 billion in payroll income.

In the past three years, some 6,000 new tourism-related jobs have been created in Kentucky.

According to the statistics released, nearly $6.81 billion was directly spent by domestic travelers in Kentucky in 2006. Added to indirect spending, the total value of tourism during the year was $10.1 billion. That amount generates $987.1 million in local, state, and federal taxes. Without tourism, the statistics indicate, each family in the United States would need to pay an additional $900 per year in taxes.