The coronavirus pandemic
is certain to have a significant negative impact on one of Russell County’s
major industries…. tourism.
With the official start
of the summer tourist season set for this weekend with the Memorial Day holiday
weekend, local a tourism director Janette Marson says tourism could really
struggle this year.
With the continued
closure of Lake Cumberland State Park due to COVID-19, that means almost half
of the available lodging in Russell County is closed. Transient room
taxes from lodging annually fund the local tourism efforts. Marson
says the tourism budget for the year beginning July 1st could be down as much
as 75 percent.
Marson says she also
expects overnight visitor numbers in Russell County to be down considerably for
the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend.