CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER
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| Record-breaking tourism spending in Northern Kentucky was fueled by demand for bourbon experiences, restaurants and new hotels, and the Ark Encounter (pictured). |
The travel and tourism industry in Northern Kentucky had a record-breaking year last year. MeetNKY | Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau said Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties generated 2017 visitor spending of $450 million. That represents an increase of nearly 16 percent compared to 2016. The spending was fueled by demand for bourbon experiences, restaurants and new hotels, and the Ark Encounter.More than 1 million people visited the Ark Encounter in its first year of operation. Ken Ham, founder and president of Answers in Genesis, expects 2017-2018 attendance to be in the 1.4 million to 2.2 million range. According to Ham, more than 95 percent of Ark Encounter visitors come from outside Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. [
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