Kentucky tourism officials say more people visited the state in 2018 and spent MORE money.

Officials say visitor trips to and within the state topped 71.6 million last year and visitor spending rose to nearly $7.6 billion, up nearly 4% over the prior year and a 21% increase since 2013.

Using the Tourism Economics model, officials say the tourism industry’s economic impact in Kentucky went from $10.9 billion in 2017 to $11.2 billion in 2018, generating more than 94,500 jobs and $787 million in state and local taxes.

Records show visitors spent more than 64 million dollars in Pike County.

Officials with the tourism department said we will continue to build on Kentucky’s signature tourism industries of horses, bourbon, music, arts, outdoors and culinary to reach new audiences.