Mark Calitri: Largest Tourism Growth in Owensboro-Daviess County History
By Mark Calitri, President & CEO, Visit Owensboro
New tourism impact data released by the Commonwealth of Kentucky shows Owensboro-Daviess County generated a record $262.9 million in visitor spending, produced $20 million in state and local tax revenue, supported 2,034 jobs, and helped local hotels achieve a new all-time occupancy record of more than 60 percent.
For Visit Owensboro, these results represent more than another record year. They represent the largest year-over-year increase in tourism impact in the history of Owensboro-Daviess County.
As President & CEO of Visit Owensboro, I believe these numbers tell an important story about where our community is headed.
This success did not come from one event, one attraction, or one organization.
Over the past several years, Owensboro-Daviess County has been intentional about creating new events, expanding sports tourism, growing convention business, supporting attractions, investing in destination development, and creating experiences that give visitors a reason to choose Owensboro.
The results are showing up across the community.
Visitors are staying in local hotels, eating in local restaurants, shopping in local businesses, attending events, visiting attractions, and generating economic activity throughout Owensboro-Daviess County.
Tourism remains one of the most effective ways to bring new dollars into a local economy. Those visitor dollars support jobs, generate tax revenue, and create opportunities for local businesses throughout our community.
At Visit Owensboro, we are fortunate to work alongside outstanding tourism stakeholders and community partners. Every hotel associate, restaurant employee, attraction staff member, event organizer, volunteer, tourism stakeholder, and sports organizer helps create the visitor experience that drives these results.
The momentum continues to build.
Convention sales continue to grow. Sports tourism continues to expand. New attractions continue to create additional reasons to visit Owensboro. Major destination investments, including the Bluegrass Fieldhouse and championship-level pickleball complex, will create even more opportunities for future growth.
Most importantly, these results show what can happen when a community has a plan and people work together to execute it.
The record tourism numbers released this year are a reflection of that effort, and Visit Owensboro remains committed to building on that momentum.
For Owensboro-Daviess County, the future has never looked brighter. Read more in the Messenger Inquirer Newspaper:
Read more about tourism and Mark Calitri in the Owensboro Times official coverage: https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2026/06/daviess-county-tourism-sets-spending-record-at-263m-officials-say/
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