LEXINGTON, KY -- The economic impact of travel and tourism in Fayette County was $1.71 billion in 2025, according to a study for the Kentucky Department of Tourism released Wednesday.

Tourism in Fayette County generated more than $133.7 million in state and local tax revenue. The industry also employed 11,813 people in the county.

“Tourism has a significant impact on our local economy, improves our quality of life and generates tax revenues that benefit residents by helping fund basic services,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. “These strong results help our local businesses and attractions as well as serve as the gateway for people thinking about relocating to Lexington."

“VisitLEX is a proud partner with the state and the local hospitality industry. We market all the assets of our community and help people maximize and personalize their visit here. Our hospitality, a variety of amenities, and signature industries help us close the deal on attracting conventions and events. Numerous national rankings and these strong tourism results are proof that, together, we have built a recipe for success.”

Lexington accounts for 16.4 percent of the state tourism impact.

According to a study by Tourism Economics, 81.1 million travelers visited Kentucky in 2025, an increase of 1.1 million from the previous year. Those travelers spent a total of $10.4 billion across the state, a $300 million increase from 2024. The breakdown of spending is as follows:

- $2.7 billion on food and beverages;
- $2.4 billion on lodging;
- $2 billion on transportation;
- $1.9 billion on retail; and
- $1.4 billion on recreation and entertainment.

More details about the tourism economic impact study, which was performed by Tourism Economics, are available HERE.