We know how great of tourist destination Lexington is — and now we’ve got the numbers to prove it.
Last week, a report from the Kentucky Department of Tourism found that the 2023 economic impact of travel + tourism in Fayette County was $1.6 billion, a new record. Of that impact, over $126 million was generate in state and local tax revenue — which translates to:
- A 9.3% increase from 2022
- 12% of the state’s overall economic impact of $13.8 billion
- ~11,560 employees added to the industry
So, where did all this money go toward? According to the data, Kentucky visitors primarily spent money on:
- Food + beverage
- Lodging
- Transportation
- Retail
- Recreation + entertainment
