By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The lion’s share of the Caveland Marketing Association’s 2024 economic impact was contributed by Barren County tourists.
During the Caveland Marketing Association’s legislative luncheon, which took place recently at the Cave Area Conference Center, association President Vanessa Ulm shared that tourists spent $119.2 million in 2024, which is 68.5 percent of the total $174.1 million spent throughout all three counties — Barren, Edmonson and Hart — that make up the association.
“[The association] is comprised of attractions, lodging and tourism-related businesses located in the three counties [which] house Mammoth Cave National Park,” Ulm said. “Since our inception in 1993 our mission remains to promote the tri-county area in and around the park…. We aim to attract more visitors to the area, have them stay a little longer and, naturally, we want repeat visitors.”
Barren County also led the other two counties in the number of jobs and in state and local taxes with Barren County logging 940 — or 69.6 percent of the jobs and the county contributing $9.6 million of the $13.5 million reported in the 2024 CMA economic impact for state and local taxes.
In a presentation titled “Maintaining our Mammoth Momentum,” Ulm also discussed the association’s wins and challenges. Of the challenges, Ulm mentioned the weather, the record-breaking 43-day federal government shutdown that stopped cave tours at the national park and “detrimentally” affected businesses, the fact that this was the first full year without American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the decline in international travelers, which necessitated the association adapting their marketing efforts.
“[Canadians] account for two-thirds of Kentucky’s international travel…, we saw an abrupt halt not only here but through the state due in large part to what Canada told us is a contentious political environment,” Ulm said. “The U.S. Travel Association forecasts a 3.2 percent decline in international spending in the country in 2025, which is a loss of 5.7 billion over the previous year. I think it’s important to note, and very concerning for all of us that there are more Americans traveling abroad…then international tourists are coming into the United States [which] has definitely affected our tourism-related businesses.”
In terms of wins, Ulm mentioned the fact they were used as a benchmark for the Red River Gorge alliance that she said is a sign that this collaborative tourism organization is successful, and the national attention gained through the Tyler Childers Dinosaur World concert.
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