“Tourism is the handshake of economic development.” — Destinations International

This statement is especially true in Somerset-Pulaski County, where tourism is our No. 1 industry and we invest so much effort in quality-of-life initiatives that make this a place people want to visit, live and work.

We are thrilled that one of those initiatives — the Lake Cumberland Air Show — recently received recognition for tourism excellence at the Kentucky Travel Industry Association annual conference in Bowling Green. Lake Cumberland Tourism Executive Director and SPEDA Board Vice-Chair Michelle Allen and City of Somerset/SPEDA Communications Director Julie Harris accepted the award at the conference.

The air show — a partnership between the Lake Cumberland Regional Airport, the Somerset Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and SPEDA — received a bronze Traverse Award in the destination management category. Kentucky travel and tourism businesses and marketing organizations vie for Traverse Awards each year in 11 categories. A panel of out-of-state tourism industry experts judges the competition, with criteria including concept, creativity, results and impact.

A total of 199 entries were submitted from throughout Kentucky for the 2023 competition.

The Lake Cumberland Air Show, which will return for its third year on Sept. 21, 2024, is a family-friendly event that has attracted nearly 15,000 people in the Lake Cumberland region in its first two years. The event was born from the desire to give the community another event to attract visitors while highlighting the importance of aviation and the airport. It features music, food and a robust lineup of air and runway entertainment.

For more information about the air show, visit lakecumberlandairshow.com.