Dramatic 2017 Economic Impact of Tourism
Felt by Every Household in Georgetown/Scott County
Tourism provided tax relief to Scott County households to the tune of $1,065 each
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GEORGETOWN, KY – JUNE 26, 2018 –Tourist activity in Georgetown/Scott County generated $119,195,515 in direct tourist spending in 2017. As a result, each of Scott County’s 18,421 households effectively saved more than $1,000 each. According to the 2017 Economic Impact of Kentucky Tourism report released by the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Scott County netted a 5.5 percent increase in 2017, continuing a growth trend in the county and statewide that has held for more than five years.
“On an average day in Scott County in 2017 visitors spent $326,563 – a day,” emphasized Lori Saunders, executive director of Georgetown/Scott County Tourism. “Tourism has a very real impact on the quality of life we enjoy in our community.”
Statewide, the report showed that tourism had an economic impact that amounted to more than $15 billion, with direct expenditures by tourists accounting for over $9.5 billion of this total. All nine of the state’s tourism regions, including Bluegrass, Horses, Bourbon & Boone of which Georgetown/Scott County is a part, registered gains again in 2017.
The annual survey also showed that tourism supported over 195,000 jobs in Kentucky in 2017 and generated more than $1.5 billion in tax revenue, with $202 million going directly to local communities.
“The tourism industry is a driving force for Kentucky’s economy and the 2017 economic impact numbers reinforce this,” said Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Commissioner Kristen Branscum of the Kentucky Department of Tourism. “We look at growth in our state in terms of investment and impact numbers prove that visitors are investing their money and time in Kentucky.”
In Scott County, tourist activity generated $187,375,350 in total tourist spending. It supported 1,836 jobs and produced $41,304,056 in worker income. Tourist activity also created $2,523,496 in local tax revenues and $17,093,462 in state tax revenues. As a result of taxes generated, each Scott County household paid $1,065 less in local and state taxes in 2017. In other words, if tourism did not exist, each household would have paid $1,065 more in state and local taxes to replace the taxes generated by tourist spending.
Georgetown/Scott County Tourism works hard each year to reach out to potential tourists and draw them to the area. Promoting active and unique experiences at community attractions, including Kentucky Horse Park, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Ward Hall, and an ambitious year-round schedule of festivals and events like Kentucky Three Day Event, the Horsey Hundred, Seed to Feed Dinner Series, Festival of the Horse and so many more bring people to Kentucky’s fastest-growing city.
In fact, 4,000 more visitors took the Toyota Plant Tour in 2017 than in 2016, increasing visitorship from 28,000 to 32,016. More than 21,000 visited the champions of the turf at Old Friends and some 2,700 found their way to Ward Hall to learn about the scandals of Miss Sallie Ward at this little-known historical gem.
Locally, recent tourism investments and attractions include:
• The B&B at Queenslake with event venue and horse training facility
• Home2 Suites by Hilton (opening in early 2019)
• My Old Kentucky Foam – Downtown microbrewery with brick oven-wood fired pizza
• Rooster Brewing (construction to begin in 2019)
• Three Horses Vineyard & Winery in Stamping Ground
• Georgetown & Scott County Museum special exhibits: Vietnam Exhibit (underway) and Smithsonian Exhibit (Nov. 17-Dec. 29)
• Stone Fences Tours – featuring tours of Ward Hall and The Kentucky Horse Park
• Three Hill Farm, Stamping Ground – Horsemanship clinics, horse and rider training
As the acknowledged Birthplace of Bourbon, Georgetown/Scott County is home to an appealing mix of major attractions including the Kentucky Horse Park, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tour, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm and Elkhorn Creek; hidden gems like the Rosenwald School; Fine Art Editions Gallery; Heirlooms & Gretchen’s; and “only here” draws including the Yuko-En on the Elkhorn; a picturesque Victorian-era downtown filled with locally-owned shops, restaurants, craft breweries and distilleries, Ward Hall and Whispering Woods Riding Stables. Additionally, Georgetown/Scott County Tourism develops new events to continually give visitors reasons to come to the area.
Georgetown/Scott County’s many accolades include being named one of “8 Small Southern Towns to Visit in 2018” by U.S. News and World Report and the “Best Place to Live in Kentucky” by Money magazine. Additionally, USA Today 10Best named Old Friends #2 and The Kentucky Horse Park #6 among “Best Kentucky Attractions-2017.”
For more information about Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, call 502-863-2547 or visit www.GeorgetownKy.com.
For more details about the economic impact study, visit www.kentuckytourism.com/industry/toolkit.
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