South West Visitor Economy Hub’s Post

Incredible news about our No. 1 industry — tourism spending has increased four out of the last five years in Somerset-Pulaski County. And we are excited to join Lake Cumberland Tourism and See Somerset Tourism in announcing that we achieved an astounding $150.9 million in 2023, another record! “These numbers don’t happen by accident and are proof that the hard work our tourism professionals are putting in is paying off. It all starts with the visit. A tourism leader in Irving, Texas once explained it this way in a speech: ‘If you build a place where people want to visit, you’ll build a place where people want to live. If you build a place where people want to live, you’ll build a place where people want to work. If you build a place where people want to work, you’ll build a place where business wants to be. And, if you build a place where business wants to be, we’ll be back to building a place where people want to visit.’ This is the cycle we are building in Somerset-Pulaski County. A place everyone wants to be. And it is working.” ~ SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler https://lnkd.in/gGrUfjPx #somersetleads #PulaskiProud #seelc #seemyset #TheCapitalofLakeCumberland

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Tourism numbers are out! Here are some highlights: - Spending in Milwaukee County grew 6.4% - The Greater Milwaukee area helped deliver a historic year for tourism statewide, accounting for 25.5% of total tourism impact in Wisconsin - Direct visitor spending in 2023 totaled $3.525 billion in the four-county region with $2.342 billion in Milwaukee County alone  - In 2023 in Milwaukee County, tourism supported 27,226 full-time jobs – up 2.1% from 2022 Additional data from the Tourism Economics impact study, including a county-by-county breakdown, can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/gMSQqsYd

I said to Visit Wales 'What if I remove all of my mountain walks and just deliver walks such as the waterfalls walk from Pontneddfechan, would that allow me access to the Visit Wales platform?' Visit Wales then informed me, after three years of discussion where they had not made this clear, that even a low-level walk, if the guide walks further than 30 minutes from their vehicle, requires their not fit for purpose accreditation. Think about that... That means that almost all countryside guiding requires Visit Wales accreditation, which no other tourism portal in the UK requires. This is micro-managing on a grand scale and at great cost. Blue Badge Guides visiting the Chartists Cave or a more remote stone circle, foraging providers wandering the forests, farm treks with Alpaca's that visit common land and walk leaders guiding along the Wales Coast Path, all require accreditation. A Penarth to Lavernock guided walk or in North Wales, a beach walk to Ynys Llanddwyn or a walk from Beddgelert to the Pass of Abergalslyn would all fall foul of the Visit Wales Adventure Activity Assurance Scheme. However, these are not adventure activities. They are guided walks of short duration on well-used public footpaths. No providers, however, have the accreditation. The result is that none are visible on a Visit Wales website search, well, apart from those that Visit Wales chooses to list, against their own rules. This is why I am campaigning. The arbitrary and grossly unfair implementation of Visit Wales policy is plain for all to see and we must question the why, and, with wilful refusal to explain, Visit Wales staff must be seen as including 'Mr Nepotism' as a key member of the Visit Wales team. Wales Outdoors is listed on Visit Britain, the UK Gov tourism platform, and multiple local authority websites in Wales.

Did you know? Direct tourism spending in Dane County reached $1.5 billion in 2023, a 9.9% increase since 2022. Meanwhile, overall economic impact was up by 8.4% to $2.56 billion. Dane County saw some of the largest increases in Wisconsin. It ranked third in the state in direct spending, behind Milwaukee County’s $2.3 billion and Sauk County’s $1.6 billion.  Read more: https://lnkd.in/gR-KqkNT #wisconsintourism #hospitalityindustry #madisonwi

🌟 Exciting News Alert 🌟 🔮 Prediction: The Florida tourism industry is gearing up to bounce back stronger than ever post-Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Their resilience campaign and focus on showcasing unaffected areas will undoubtedly attract visitors in droves. 🏖️ This strategic move not only demonstrates the unwavering spirit of the Sunshine State but also highlights the diverse offerings beyond the storm-affected regions. 🔆 Florida remains a sought-after destination that promises unforgettable experiences, whether you're soaking up the sun on pristine beaches or immersing yourself in vibrant cultural attractions. 🚀 As the tourism leaders pave the way for a comeback, we can expect to see a resurgence in visitor numbers and a renewed sense of optimism in the industry. 🌴 Let's rally behind Florida's efforts to promote resilience and remind the world of the beauty and allure that awaits in the unscathed corners of this enchanting state. #FloridaTourism #ResilienceCampaign #ComebackStronger #UnaffectedAreas #VisitFlorida 🌟

The South Western Kentucky region enjoyed another stellar year for tourism and visitor spending with Christian County leading the way as the state's #9 most visited county based on tourism receipts. With nearly $240M in tourism spending, Christian County's tourism economy helped fuel record receipts for hotels, restaurants, and small businesses that serve visitors and tourists. "We applaud the Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism Commission, Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Oak Grove Tourism Commission, as well as our regional partners, for their hard work establishing the entire SWK region as a great place to visit, recreate, and relax. From family festivals to fun at the lake, our region has your recreation and relaxation needs covered," stated Carter Hendricks, SWK EDC. This most recent data continues a trend of positive news for South Western Kentucky with recent positive economic indicators including: 1. Christian County ranked among state leaders for new business permits (2023). 2. Hopkinsville surpassed $1B in equivalent payroll (2023). 3. Elkton ranked as Kentucky's 3rd fastest growing city (2020-2023). 4. Cadiz ranked as Kentucky's 6th fastest growing city (2020-2023). 5. Land Between the Lakes/Lake Barkley remain one of the state's top tourism attractions with over 2 million annual visitors. The region continues to offer incredible investment opportunities with build-ready development sites mitigating risk and saving money in the region's less taxing, more relaxing environment. Call 270-885-1499 or visit www.southwesternky.com to learn more about our region's recent news and opportunities! #comegrowwithus #thinkkentucky #fortcampbell #lesstaxingmorerelaxing #visitSWK Amy Rogers Oak Grove Tourism Commission City of Hopkinsville Christian County Chamber of Commerce TRIGG COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Bill Stevens Sharon Butts

The South Western Kentucky region enjoyed another stellar year for tourism and visitor spending with Christian County leading the way as the state's #9 most visited county based on tourism receipts. With nearly $240M in tourism spending, Christian County's tourism economy helped fuel record receipts for hotels, restaurants, and small businesses that serve visitors and tourists. "We applaud the Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism Commission, Hopkinsville-Christian County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Oak Grove Tourism Commission, as well as our regional partners, for their hard work establishing the entire SWK region as a great place to visit, recreate, and relax. From family festivals to fun at the lake, our region has your recreation and relaxation needs covered," stated Carter Hendricks, SWK EDC. This most recent data continues a trend of positive news for South Western Kentucky with recent positive economic indicators including: 1. Christian County ranked among state leaders for new business permits (2023). 2. Hopkinsville surpassed $1B in equivalent payroll (2023). 3. Elkton ranked as Kentucky's 3rd fastest growing city (2020-2023). 4. Cadiz ranked as Kentucky's 6th fastest growing city (2020-2023). 5. Land Between the Lakes/Lake Barkley remain one of the state's top tourism attractions with over 2 million annual visitors. The region continues to offer incredible investment opportunities with build-ready development sites mitigating risk and saving money in the region's less taxing, more relaxing environment. Call 270-885-1499 or visit www.southwesternky.com to learn more about our region's recent news and opportunities! #comegrowwithus #thinkkentucky #fortcampbell #lesstaxingmorerelaxing #visitSWK Amy Rogers Oak Grove Tourism Commission City of Hopkinsville Christian County Chamber of Commerce TRIGG COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Bill Stevens Sharon Butts

TRC Tourism are excited to be working with East Gippsland Shire Council to development the Cann River Walking Track Masterplan! 🌲🚶♂️This project focuses on auditing and assessing the current walking trail network in Cann River, which has been heavily impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires and subsequent years of rain and floods. Key Goals: 🌟 Community Well-being: Enhancing the trails to boost local well-being. 🌟 Tourism Boost: Encouraging longer stays in Cann River for visitors traveling between Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, and the Snowy Mountains. During a 3-day site visit, we engaged in valuable consultations with stakeholders, including the East Gippsland Shire Council, Cann Valley District Representative Group (CVDRG), DEECA, Parks VIC, local community members, and business operators. These interactions provided clarity and greatly assisted in the thorough review and audit of the current and potential trails. The masterplan will serve as: 📋 A reference document for future trail network management. 💰 A source of funding for necessary works. #CannRiver #CommunityWellbeing #Tourism #BushfireRecovery #TrailRevitalisation