May 08--Direct spending by tourists in the Caves, Lakes & Corvettes Region increased by 5.5 percent from 2011 to 2012 to $358.1 million.

Statewide, the number increased by 4.4 percent to more than $7.7 billion, with the biggest jump -- 6.3 percent -- coming in the region known as Bourbon, Horses & History. That region of the state, which includes Jefferson County, but not Fayette, as the name implies, had $2.34 million in direct expenses.

The direct spending is not the only impact that the tourism industry has in the state. Every dollar tourists spend has a ripple effect. That statewide spending of $7.7 billion had an indirect impact of $4.4 billion, according to a study by Certec prepared for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. The total tourism impact in this region was nearly $563 million, with $353.6 coming in Warren County.

That direct spending is money that is tracked to actual visitor expenses for hotels, food and attraction admission fees, according to Marissa Butler, marketing director for the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The indirect expenses are calculated using a formula to determine spending by people employed in the hospitality industry. Direct employment in the tourism industry statewide went from 118,914 to 121,768. In this region, it went from 8,968 to 9,164.

Statewide employment from indirect expenses was believed to have gone from 51,014 to 52,014.

National Corvette Museum Director Wendell Strode said the museum continues to sponsor events and change exhibits to help boost admission numbers.

"Our attendance was up about 3 percent in 2012 to 143,500," Strode said. "Certainly the reveal of the C-7 that we just had will boost attendance in 2013. That was the highest attended Birthday Bash we've had since we started doing it. We had pre-registration of 1,700 and typically have about half of pre-registration as walk up."

Strode said the museum networks with all Corvette enthusiasts and clubs with a magazine and weekly electronic newsletter to bring more people to the area.

"We try to put together events and programs that will make people want to come here," Strode said.

The museum has information at the state's welcome center in Bullitt County and uses billboard advertising to draw people off the interstate.

Those interstate travelers are probably spending a few hours at the museum, possibly eating and purchasing gas. Those coming to events also are staying in area hotels, Strode said.

He expects the number of people staying in town for two to three days will greatly increase when the museum opens the Motorsports Park in fall 2014.

The museum is close to raising the $1 million it needs to begin construction of the park in late June, Strode said. More than $100,000 was raised at the Birthday Bash, bringing the total recently raised to about $800,000. The museum has already spent several million on the land and planning for the project and will finance whatever it doesn't raise for the project.

"It's my goal to be able to build the whole thing at once when we start this," Strode said. "But we have committed to building at least the (first phase). We will have a board meeting on June 27, and at that time we will be recommending, and the board voting, on how much to build. Some good things need to happen between now and June 28, but I think we have positioned ourselves for some good things to happen. We are working with a couple of sponsors and several individuals whose commitments (if they come to fruition) would be substantial."

The area's attractions, such as Mammoth Cave National Park, the museum and Beech Bend Raceway and Park, aren't the only draws for tourists to the region, Butler said.

Butler said the addition of numerous sporting events helped bump Warren County's numbers. The 10th annual Holley NHRA Reunion also drew more visitors into town.

"We were thrilled with the increase," Butler said. "We were tied for second with the largest gains for the nine regions in the state. It is just another testament to the affordable and quality attractions in this region. With the national park -- it is one of the mostly heavily searched terms for the region -- our awareness continues to grow."

Butler said the CVB is slowly building the region's online presence to help get the message in front of more eyes, and the Internet is where they are more focused these days.

-- Robyn L. Minor covers business, environment, transportation and other issues for the Daily News. Follow her at twitter.com/bowserminor. Where would you take out-of-town visitors? Vote on our poll at bgdailynews.com.

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