Economic Engine Award

The travel industry is the third largest economic generator in Kentucky with over $15 billion economic impact on the state. This returns tens of millions of dollars to our local communities and millions to local governments in taxes. The “Economic Engine Award” exists to recognize those local counties which have made an extraordinary economic impact on the local economy directly from tourism.

Winners are selected based on tourism impact data that meets one of the following criteria: the recipient is either: one of the counties with the largest tourism economic impact; or, one of the top counties in the state that have created tourism jobs as a percentage of all jobs in the county.  

Counties are eligible to win each year. 


2019 Recipient Counties:

  • Pike 
  • Edmonson

2018 Recipient Counties:

  • Pulaski
  • Madison
  • Rowan
  • Warren
  • Whitley
  • Franklin
  • Hardin
  • Boone/Campbell/Kenton
  • Bullitt
  • Nelson
  • Christian
  • Scott
  • Shelby
  • Daviess
  • McCracken