Travel and tourism breaks $2 billion mark for Fayette for first time

A state survey released Thursday showed that total travel spending in Fayette County for 2015 broke the $2 billion mark for the first time.

The report, called the Economic Impact of Kentucky’s Travel and Tourism Industry — 2014 and 2015, said that Fayette County had $2.02 billion in total travel spending, up from $1.93 billion in 2014. More than $3 billion was spent in the 15-county region that includes Lexington.

The survey was produced for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet by Certec Inc. of Versailles. It divided Kentucky into regions that include Bluegrass, Blues & Barbeque; Caves, Lakes & Corvettes; Bourbon, Horses & History; and Kentucky’s Southern Shorelines. Fayette County is included in the Bluegrass, Horses, Bourbon & Boone region.

Tourism brought in more than $13.7 billion to Kentucky in 2015.

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Travel and tourism breaks $2 billion mark for Fayette for first time."