Published: May 10, 2008 08:48 pm      

Richmond tourism highlighted next week

Richmond has celebrated National Tourism Week for the past 24 years, and for several reasons, said Lori Murphy, Richmond’s Tourism and Main Street Department director.

Madison County is ranked sixth in the state for tourism expenditures. Every dollar Richmond visitors spend turns over 1,611 times and has an $115 million dollars in annual economic impact, according to statistics complied by the city’s tourism department.

This year’s celebration will run through Sunday, May 18, and will feature several contests and free tours of the Irvinton House, the historical site at 345 Lancaster Ave. that houses the Richmond Tourism and Main Street Department.

A postcard contest, radio trivia contest and a photo contest are ways the community can get involved in celebrating national Tourism Week in Richmond.

Residents are being asked to photograph their favorite place in Richmond and submit it to The Richmond Visitor Center by 4 p.m. Friday. The photo of the lucky winner will be featured on the cover of the new Richmond Visitor Guide.

“We hope this year with the contests and open house, all residents of Richmond will begin to explore what we have to offer,” said Lori Murphy, director of Richmond’s Tourism and Visitor’s Center.

Irvinton House will be open for free tours from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. Refreshments will be served and Murphy also will be presenting a special tourism award to a Richmond citizen.

“Also come by the Visitor Center anytime during the week and we will send a postcard to someone that you would like to visit Richmond,” she said.

Richmond’s tourism industry has grown throughout the years and Mayor Connie Lawson is proud of the tremendous accomplishments, she said.

“It really has flourished. Gibson Bay is the major attraction, along with our Fourth of July celebration and the (Touchstone Energy) All A Classic,” Lawson said.

There are many aspects of developing a strong tourism base in a city, Lawson said.

“We have an unbelievable staff,” she said. “Lori (Murphy) and her team work with the fire, street and police department. They come together so beautifully for our events.”

Aside from coordinating local events, showcasing what the community has to offer is one of the most important jobs of a tourism office, according to Richmond City Manager David Evans.

“You have to have people who are able to market the city, send out information, respond to questions and advertise the city to let people know what’s here,” he said.

“Tourism is a very important part of the economy here. (Tourism) helps restaurants, retail stores, gas stations. It has a ripple effect.”

This summer is set to be one of the best summers for tourism because of the opening of new attractions such as Paradise Cove at Gibson Bay, the long-awaited family aquatic center, Murphy said.

Visitors also frequently inquire about the Battle of Richmond site, she said.

“We have historical staples like Fort Boonesborough, White Hall State Historic Shrine, Bybee Pottery and Eastern Kentucky University’s Hummel Planetarium,” Murphy said. “In the past year, we have had numerous visitors also inquire about Acres of Land Winery. They are very surprised to see so many wineries in Kentucky.”

“I think it is very important to realize what tourism attraction you have in your own backyard,” Murphy said. “With the increasing cost of fuel, everyone is looking for destinations closer to home and what is closer than your own city.

“Richmond is blessed with rich history and wonderful sites to visit,” she said. “You could spend an entire week exploring everything there is to see and do in Madison County.”

Call the Richmond Tourism and Visitor’s Center at 626-8474 for more information about the contests or open house event.



Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.