Coronavirus pandemic causes uncertainty in tourism plan

As summer nears, tourism efforts in Ohio County are looking a little different this year.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has caused some uncertainty among many event planners and organizations in the county as well as businesses in connection with those. Some events are being changed while others have been postponed or even canceled.

This has left many in the county wondering what their summer will look like. The Beaver Dam Amphitheater, one of the county’s biggest tourism draws, has rescheduled two of the three concerts already scheduled for this summer. Tanya Tucker, originally announced to perform on May 30 has been moved to Oct. 2. Casting Crowns, a second time performing band at the amphitheater, made the official decision on Monday to move the original concert date from June 19 to Sept. 4.

“Our top priority is the safety of our artists, crews, guests and staff,” the Beaver Dam Tourism announcement of the concert stated. “We didn’t want to take the risk,” Beaver Dam Mayor Paul Sandefur said.

Former tourism director Jo Beth Embry resigned in early March and the commission has yet to begin to look for someone to fill the position. The commission will be accepting applications soon and hopes to start reviewing applications in May.

As for what tourism has looked like thus far in the city, Sandefur described it as, “basically non-existent.”

Some events are still in question and most are being “played by ear” at this time. Sounds on 2nd Street is set to start on the last Friday in June, however, he said it will begin sooner if businesses are already open before then.

The Strawberry Festival, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, is still on, according to Sandefur, as he hopes people will want to get back out again after regulations are lifted.

“It could be a good thing for everybody,” he said. Currently, the local economy has become what Sandefur explained to be “devastating.”

While it may not affect some, for others such as local businesses and owners , it has become their livelihood, he explained.

“They’ve worked hard to build their own businesses and I hate to see it destroyed,” Sandefur said.

As for Ohio County Tourism, struggles are seemingly similar as they are taking many things “one day at a time.”

“The area’s number one attraction is Bluegrass ... so we have been hurt tremendously in that acrea , ” OC Tourism Director Jody Flener said.

A fundraiser for the Jerusalem Ridge Festival was postponed and a new date has yet to be announced. The Bill Monroe Homeplace and Bill Monroe Museum are also closed per governor’s restrictions during the pandemic.

With concern for the amount of tourism that comes from out of state, Flener said she is not sure what that will mean yet in terms of visitors. The commission, along with Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston, have been speaking and are hopeful that things will be back up and open soon.

According to Flener, the Kentucky State Tourism Board is looking for there to be a “big boom” in tourism when the pandemic ends. Weekly surveys have been held by the State Tourism Office and show that 87% of people have intentions to travel and attend events as planned when returning to post-pandemic practices.

“We think they’ll be coming because people will be so anxious to get out,” Flener said.

While Beaver Dam is funded through a 3% beverage tax, Ohio County Tourism received revenue from the county’s 3% occupancy tax. This includes Beaver Dam Inn, Eagle Inn and Barbs Bed and Breakfast.

With the current government and state regulations, these entities are resulting in little revenue for the commission. Flener says that many people are unaware of this and worries how they will pay for these events such as the Jerusalem Ridge Festival, which is funded largely through sponsorships.

The tourism commissions are working to make things happen as normally as possible. Many in the county are remaining positive that business will pick up when regulations are lifted.