It's an economic boom in the Bluegrass that keeps growing. A new report commissioned by the Kentucky Department of Tourism shows that the industry jumped by nearly four percent last year. 

The industry supports more than 195,000 jobs and generated $1.5 billion in taxes. $202 million of that tax money went to local governments with the state receiving the rest.

Tourists spend more than $9.5 billion of the $15 billion impact. Tourism jobs accounted for $3.3 billion in wages for state workers.

All nine tourism regions saw growth last year with the Western Waterlands region, which includes Kentucky Lake and Land Between the Lakes, seeing the most growth at 6.4 percent.

Owensboro is in the Bluegrass, Blues, and BBQ region.

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