One Percent Lodging Tax Will Be Dedicated For Tourism and Convention Marketing Initiatives

Frankfort, KY: Governor Ernie Fletcher has announced today that the Kentucky Tourism Board of Directors has signaled their support for the one percent dedicated statewide lodging tax for tourism and convention marketing initiatives. Kentucky's tourism is a $9.1 billion industry and it is currently the state's second largest employer and Kentucky's third largest revenue-producing industry.

"The Kentucky Tourism Council has long sought a dedicated funding mechanism for Kentucky's tourism,” stated Marcheta Sparrow, President/CEO of the Kentucky Tourism Council. "We feel the Governor's plan provides the best opportunity we have to market Kentucky third largest industry.”

The JOBS for Kentucky proposal, along with Commerce Secretary Jim Host's commitment to furthering the state's tourism industry will provide for the expansion of jobs and economic development in the Commonwealth. Secretary Host stated, "Tourism has more potential for adding jobs and helping the economy than any other industry we can invent.”

"It is an honor to have the Kentucky Tourism Council's support for the JOBS for Kentucky plan,” stated Governor Ernie Fletcher. "Modernizing Kentucky's antiquated tax code will be essential to providing more good jobs and opportunities for more Kentuckians and I am pleased to have the support of this Council which almost 170,000 Kentuckians working in tourism related jobs.”

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