FRANKFORT - Tourism in Grayson County increased 6.3 percent in 2004 and added $18.1 million to the county's economy, according to new statistics released this week by the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

The income boost from 2003 ($17 million) counts everything from fast food to employment in the tourism industry.

Tourism reported Grayson's numbers are a part of an overall 7.3 percent statewide increase in tourism during the past year, which added $8.7 billion to the state's economy.

“These numbers clearly show, in dollars and cents, how valuable tourism to Grayson County and all other counties in Kentucky,” said Randy Fiveash, commissioner of the Tourism Department.

“Not only do these visitors take in the beauty of our state, they also spend money in our restaurants, hotels and motels, gas stations and retail stores,” Fiveash said.

“Now what we want to do is to work with officials in Grayson County and other counties in the state to determine how we can increase the number of visitors who come here in the future,” added Fiveash.

He said increasing the tourism numbers in any one county can help all other counties.

The report, complied by the Travel Industry Association, also showed 174,300 people statewide are employed due to tourism, earning more than $3.3 billion in payroll income, meaning that for every one million dollars spent by visitors, 30 in-state jobs were created.

The TIA report shows that nearly $5.9 billion was spent directly by domestic travelers in Kentucky in 2004, and when added to the indirect spending, the total value is $8.7 billion.

Final 2004 figures for surrounding states were not available, but TIA projected direct economic impact for Ohio at $12.8 billion, Tennessee at $10.6 billion, Indiana at $6.7 billion, Illinois at $22.2 billion, West Virginia at $1.8 billion, and Missouri at $9.5 billion.