The Lane Report
Shelby County celebrates record-breaking $91 million in economic impact from tourism in 2023
Visitors to ShelbyKY supported 500 full-time jobs
June 4, 2024
Shelbyville, KY (June 4, 2024) — The economic impact of travel and tourism in ShelbyKY broke a record in 2023. According to ShelbyKY Tourism—the destination marketing organization for Shelbyville, Simpsonville, and Shelby County, Kentucky— visitor spending in Shelby County reached $91.1 million in 2023, an $11 million, or 13%, increase from 2022.
The tourism organization’s data was released in a report commissioned by the Kentucky Department of Tourism and collected by ShelbyKY Tourism’s research partner, Zartico. The achievement of $91 million in visitor spending marks the destination’s highest economic impact ever recorded, and such year-over-year growth is indicative of ShelbyKY’s growing appeal as a premier bourbon travel destination.