LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tourism was on the rise in Louisville before the COVID-19 pandemic, but big events won't be coming back just yet.
“In 2019, this city was on fire,” Louisville Tourism CEO Karen Williams said.
Organizers of the National Farm Machinery Show and Championship Tractor Pull announced it won’t be coming back this year, taking an estimated $12.6 million dollars worth of economic impact with it— one of the largest events the city hosts each year.
“The health and safety of our guests, exhibitors and coworkers is our highest priority and unfortunately the best way to keep them safe is to postpone the show,” Kentucky Venues CEO David Beck said in a statement.
The show is expected to come back in February 2022.
Overall, Louisville Tourism estimates Louisville has lost out on $358 million in tourism dollars since the pandemic started.
Williams said there aren’t any major conventions or trade shows planned until June now.
“We’ve got quite a few conventions still there that are hanging on, and we hope with the good news of the vaccine and more and more people get the vaccine, that we’ll be able to host these conventions," Williams said.
However, Williams said there’s some hope on the horizon.
“The discussion of the vaccine is definitely a light at the very end of a very long, long tunnel,” Williams said. “And I say that because hospitality and tourism was the first business to leave, and we believe it’ll be one of the last to come back.”
Once more people are vaccinated, Williams believes the tourism industry will come back and thrive.
“It will come back, I am certain of that. People, they have to travel, and we will be that destination,” Williams said. “The vaccine is probably— turning the corner into a new year— was probably the best news we’ve had. And as we hear more and more of the vaccine coming out, I think you’ll see the whole rest of the world continue to open.”
And she says Louisville will be a prime spot when that happens.
Karen Williams announced her retirement from Louisville Tourism Friday, a place she has worked for three decades, including the last 7 as CEO. Current chief operating officer Cleo Battle will take over in July.