A statewide trail plan is another sign of Kentucky’s “robust and growing tourism industry,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.
The “Cross Kentucky Master Trail Plan” is intended to help communities develop and maintain different types of trails across Kentucky. It also catalogues existing and planned trails in the state.
The plan also supports the Kentucky Trail Town program, which is designed to help connect communities to trail systems and help develop them as tourist destinations. It will guide travelers to trails, food, lodging, campgrounds, museums, entertainment and other services.
The Trail Town designation helps communities improve their tourism economy, add more jobs and create more tourism opportunities for the entire state. There are currently nine Kentucky Trail Towns, and more than 30 other communities working on the application process with the Office of Adventure Tourism in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
The Office of Adventure Tourism commissioned the trail plan, which will be distributed to cities, area development districts, convention and tourists bureaus and other groups interested in trail development.
Beshear, who appeared with the First Lady Jane Beshear and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray along the Legacy Trail in Lexington, noted how adventure tourism plays an important role in the state’s overall tourism industry.
“Tourism had a $13.1 billion economic impact in Kentucky in 2014 and supported 180,000 jobs,” Beshear said. “We’ve shown some tremendous growth in tourism and hosted many events that have attracted visitors from around the world. I want to thank all of the people in the tourism industry who have worked so hard to make this happen.”
He noted some of those special events include:
· The 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park,
· The Breeders’ Cup – three times (The 2015 Breeders’ Cup will be in Lexington)
· The Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway,
· The Ryder Cup,
· The PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship.
Over the last five years, the economic impact from tourism in Kentucky has increased by more than $2.2 billion to $13.1 billion. The tourism industry has added 13,000 jobs during those five years. These jobs generated more than $2.9 billion in wages for Kentucky workers, an increase of nearly $123 million from the previous year.
Tourism generated $1.37 billion in tax revenues for local and state governments in 2014, an increase from $1.31 billion in 2013.