♪ >> We're so glad to be joined by some powerhouses in the tourism industry.

We know that tourism is a 13 billion dollar annual industry for Kentucky.

More than 92,000 jobs.

It brings to the state.

And so we're going to talk.

2 tuition old is executive director of the Hopkins County Tourist and Convention Center.

Abby Dixon, second director of the Henderson Tourist Commission and of course, have markedly tree whose president CEO the Owensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

So thank you all for being here.

I want to start with Mark First.

We're going to defer to the online jumping on the panel for just a moment to talk about where we are and this bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and museum.

And this is a spectacular place and it does a lot I know for owns bureau.

But there's more than just bluegrass to Owensboro, right?

There >> We put a major investment here on the riverfront hundreds of millions of dollars.

And it's a central focus to what we have.

And we think we've built a perfect package with the restaurants and the hotels and the activities in the convention center.

And of course, this is the only Bluegrass Music Museum on Planet Her.

And so we're happy that it's beautiful.

I encourage even if you may or may not be a big avid fan, there's a lot to learn and they've gone through it a few times and it's great.

And the every time I'm here, I do there.

And it is just spectacular.

>> And the kind of investment like you said, hundreds of millions of dollars to to build Did it take a lot to get the community by and for that?

>> It was a long process.

Over a decade ago, they started the planning process.

And I've been here about 8 years.

But the plan was a crucial part of the process.

But then now it's this relentless execution that we're doing every day to try to when people over and get people introduced to Western Kentucky.

Everything we have to offer here.

>> This is the best spot to see the Ohio River hands down.

Whether you're in Kentucky are not.

Well, let's turn this way and talk to you.

So, Trish, I want to talk to you about Hopkins County, not very far from here at all.

And and you also can talk about the overall regional impact that tourism plays a with 9 counties that you all are part of.

Tell us a little about that.

>> Okay.

So first of all, I want to talk about Hopkins County.

Yeah, I'm proud of of what we.

And they are.

We boost outdoor recreation.

We are home to Kentucky's first trail town in Dawson Springs, which is home to pin you out for a state resort park.

So we're very proud to be can take these first trail town and then in the city of Madisonville, we have a beautiful level to our part.

We're very proud of that.

And anyone who comes to visit and ask us where they should go.

We always encourage them to our park.

So we're very proud about outdoor recreation.

So as far as our region goes, we are and then county region, the economic impact numbers for last year did show that we had over 500 million dollar impact in this region.

The Bluegrass Blues and barbecue region.

So, yeah, I did that.

That yes.

be bluegrass Blues and barbecue.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And Henderson lays claim to the Blues.

That's right.

Yeah.

You can find it all under said Yeah.

Yeah.

So the Bluegrass question comes into play.

You know, this region is known for bluegrass music.

Well, we're kind of festival city USA in the summer.

So we have a fantastic Bluegrass festival every year.

>> Going on, 36 years.

Fantastic Blues festival that pays tribute to WC handy who once called Henderson Home.

And then of course, we have 5 great mom and pop barbecue joints that are part of the West Kentucky barbecue belt and after school.

And that's really gaining a lot of popularity.

A know that when that was announced a few months ago about this barbecue belt.

Yes, yeah.

I know a lot of us cities along even some of the South Central Kentucky.

They're trying to be a part of it.

Now you have set the record straight.

Is the biz.

The barbecue is good like in Simpson County and Warren County as it is an Anderson.

Well, you know, we all work so well together.

And I think what's cool about about this trail.

>> You know, whenever he visited a place, you want to try the local flavor, right?

Right.

And in our neck of the woods, barbecue West, Kentucky barbecue is the local place.

So there's some folklore that says the August names have the best barbecue like the restaurant names, that more odd.

They are.

You are all right.

Said that that.

Yeah, I'm trying to think of what the strange us name in our region, but they will have to come.

But I have to find that out.

That will be a trivia question.

5 and yeah, it's of get on that trail.

What is it that you really see our opportunities beyond bluegrass Blues and barbecue for your both of your counties to kind of capitalize on.

Yes.

So I think in Henderson, you know, some of the Hopkins County, our region and offers fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities.

And I think ever sense, you know, coming out of COVID, we kind of reconnect with nature.

And I'm really built that into the way we travel a little bit more than maybe we used to.

Henderson were home to audit been state park can experience miles of trails, but then get into the AC visit, the museum and Nature Center there.

>> For unique experience, the Henderson slows.

It's a wildlife management area.

You can kayak through moving water with cypress trees growing out of the water that just towers over.

You.

Great for viewing wildlife birds.

So I think, you know, as as folks put more of an emphasis on outdoor recreation and the way we travel our region is definitely an area that should not be overlooked.

Yeah, you said the same, right?

Absolutely.

Because we all 9 counties offer something different to you.

And it really is a great region to travel now in Hopkins County, I will say we're getting ready to.

I'm going to kind of change gears just a little bit.

>> We are finishing at expected to open in October a 90,000 square-foot indoor sports facility.

So we will really be focusing on our sports beginning the and so we we are super excited about as well we will a regional police training facility where nail all law enforcement go to Richmond for their training.

So nail this half of the state will be coming to Madisonville for their training.

And so that's going to be a huge in pet to our community.

I remember that was a discussed are in the most recent legislative session and the ending was made available for that to happen.

And that's good because that's a big distance Madisonville enrichment at exactly.

>> So, OK, I'll give you mark the last word about what do you see are possibilities and opportunities on the horizon with Owensboro Davis County?

>> Well, having lived and worked in Lexington and Louisville and Northern Kentucky.

I think one of the biggest things that we're trying to do is a region as well as burrow to is to get our message out to those other cities in the other parts of the state of how amazing Western Kentucky is.

And it's a great place to live.

It's a great place to open a We just have to wake up every day telling that mess and center continuing to improve a now.

We do it >> Yeah, tourism makes the Sago rounded right.

It is a major industry and a lot of jobs are created.

A lot of economic impact and it's a major contributor to overall quality of life.

And thank you all for leading the charge.

It's been good to speak with you.

Taha.