Statistics released by the Kentucky Department of Travel this week report that total tourism expenditures in Warren County were up by .6 percent to $306.9 million in 2009 from $304.9 million in 2008.  The state, however, saw an overall decrease of 1.9% bringing the total tourism expenditures to $10.8 billion last year, down from $11 billion in 2008.  Certec Consulting, Inc. compiled the figures.

“The diversity of affordable attractions throughout our county and region, plus our proximity to Mammoth Cave National Park, which saw great attendance in 2009, certainly attributed to this increase during a year when many of our counterparts across the state and country saw declines.  We feel very fortunate to report growth in the tourism economic impact for our region,” said Vicki Fitch, Executive Director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The ten-county Cave Region group in which Warren County is included saw an increase of 1.1% in direct tourism expenditures equaling $310,324,803, adding an overall amount of $487,830,590 in total expenditures to the region’s economy.  All counties saw increases in 2009 except Hart, which dipped slightly by about $50,000 in direct expenditures.  Warren County had the largest increase in the region with Barren, which had the largest increase in 2008, coming in second.

Warren County again ranks 5th out of the 120 counties in total tourism expenditures for the year.  Jefferson County led with $2.57 billion in total impact, followed by Fayette with nearly $1.66 billion.  The counties of Boone and Kenton in Northern Kentucky were next with $1.15 billion and $919 million in total expenditures.