Somerset — The numbers aren’t yet in for 2007 — the first year Pulaski County experienced the effects of a lowered Lake Cumberland — but if figures from 2006 are any indication, tourism remains a strong source of income for the county.
Tourism in Pulaski County increased 8 percent in 2006 and added $90,420,243 to the county’s economy, according to statistics released by the Kentucky Department of Tourism in July.
“These numbers clearly show, in dollars and cents, how valuable tourism is to Pulaski County and all other counties in Kentucky,” says Randy Fiveash, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism.
“The tourism money that is spent in our communities circulates several times into the area economy. That means more people benefit, and more jobs are created.”
Pulaski County’s numbers are part of an overall 6.6 percent statewide increase in tourism in 2006, which equates to $10.1 billion being added to the state’s economy.
Out of surrounding counties in Kentucky’s “southern lakes region” — which includes Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne — Pulaski County experienced the sixth largest growth percentage from 2005 to 2006. Over the last three years, from 2003 to 2006, Pulaski County has had the fourth largest growth percentage.
“We have worked hard here in Pulaski County to attract more visitors to the area,” says Carolyn Mounce, executive director of the Somerset-Pulaski Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Thanks to strong local leadership and the beauty of Pulaski County, we’ve been successful. We are looking forward to even more growth in the future.”
Mounce lists several local events which she believes has helped the county’s tourism numbers — Somernites Cruise, SomerSplash water park, the Master Musicians Festival, and the Sinking Valley and Cedar Creek wineries, to name a few.
“Haney’s Appledale Farm and the Mill Springs Battlefield are also great attractions,” she adds.
“In the fall, Bear Wallow Farm is a great destination for children and families. But we must never leave out our beautiful lake. It remains our focal point.”
Last fiscal year, the CVB contributed more than $50,000 toward the promotion of the above-mentioned events, along with ShoutFest, the 15 Miles Plus Yard Sale, Burnside’s Catfish Festival, the Cool Run, the Cave Hill Bluegrass Festival, and more.
Fiveash says the state’s Department of Tourism now plans to work with officials in Pulaski and other counties to determine how to continue to increase the number of visitors who come to Kentucky in the future.
“Not only do our visitors take in the beauty of our Commonwealth, they also spend money in our restaurants, hotels and motels, gas stations, and retail stores. Every business in the community benefits from tourism dollars,” he says.
The statistics, compiled by the Travel Industry Association, show 176,900 people statewide are employed in a tourism-related field, earning more than $3.36 billion in payroll income.
In the past three years, some 6,000 new tourism-related jobs have been created in Kentucky.
According to the statistics released, nearly $6.81 billion was directly spent by domestic travelers in Kentucky in 2006. Added to indirect spending, the total value of tourism during the year was $10.1 billion. That amount generates $987.1 million in local, state, and federal taxes. Without tourism, the statistics indicate, each family in the United States would need to pay an additional $900 per year in taxes.
Local News
Related Photos
Tourism still a bright spot in 2007
Mounce says Lake Cumberland still focal point of area tourism
- Local News
-
-
Hal Rogers defends Somerset’s Streetscape project
-
Survey may attract commercial passenger service
-
Somerset on verge of becoming natural gas hub
It sounds like a Buck Rogers fiction series, but it’s true. The city of Somerset is about to become the energy hub of Kentucky, maybe even regionally or nationally.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler, gas company manager Dan Henderson and city engineer Reggie Chaney discussed the grandiose energy network this week with a reporter for the Commonwealth Journal. It’s more than a vision. City officials say it’s about to become reality. -
Old districts are back ... for now
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the legislative redistricting debacle in Frankfort.
Judge Phillip Shepherd in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday tossed out the General Assembly’s controversial redistricting plans and reverted everything back to where it was before. -
Fast-moving blaze guts mobile home off Slate Branch Road
-
Big Bang Theory
Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
The Health Department doesn’t operate the cannons unless there is a specific complaint in an area where there are lots of birds, Spillman noted. He said so far this year the birds are not as bad as in the past. -
Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
-
SCS to host Medal of Honor recipient
The message is clear: There are heroes. Even here in our own hometowns.
That’s the idea organizers hope to get across Saturday night at Somerset Christian School, when Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meter speaks to all who choose to attend.
For further questions, ticket purchases, and sponsorship opportunities please contact Susan Adams at (606) 875-0255. -
Newspaper veteran name Publisher of Commonwealth Journal
SOMERSET — A fourth generation newspaperman has been named publisher of the Commonwealth Journal.
Rob McCullough, 50, who started working in a newspaper mailroom when he was 15, officially assumes his duties today. He succeeds Jack McNeely who has accepted a position with the Daily Mountain Eagle in Jasper, Alabama.
-
Blakley receives worldwide honor
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
