KENTUCKY — On this week’s program, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is our guest. During this segment, Gorton discusses recent numbers from the Kentucky Department of Tourism which revealed that the economic impact of travel and tourism in Fayette County set a record in 2023 of $1.6 billion, which is 9.3% growth over 2022.

According to VisitLex, tourism in Fayette County generated more than $126 million in state and local tax revenue. The industry also employed 11,583 people in the county. 

Lexington accounts for 12% of the state tourism impact. 

More details about the tourism economic impact study, which was performed by Tourism Economics, are available here.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.