Kentucky’s Western Waterland, KWW, is a 15-county non-profit organization. KWW represents and promotes all facets of the tourism industry from the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to the Lakes Area and beyond to Todd County. KWW was established in 1969 and is managed by a 36-member Board of Directors elected from across the region. KWW is funded primarily by annual membership dues and fund-raising efforts.
KWW is the only organization in western Kentucky authorized to carry out regional promotion funded in part by monies allocated by the Kentucky Department of Tourism. The annual regional visitor’s guide and map published by KWW are the official regional publications. All tourism businesses are listed in the regional visitor’s guide. They are mailed by KWW and the Department of Tourism in response to inquiries received from across the nation. The guide and map are also distributed at a number of travel and sport shows each year, all of Kentucky’s Interstate welcome centers, and many businesses in the area who provide copies to their customers.
KWW strives to promote the beauty, recreational, and cultural opportunities of our area to the widest possible audience. KWW advertises the region in national and regional magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens, Midwest Living, Game & Fish, Southern Living, Home & Away, Vacations, Reader’s Digest and many more. Tens of thousands of tourists look to the regional visitor’s guide, map and internet site for information on attractions, lodging, camping, boating, fishing, hunting, dining and shopping in the region.
KWW staff responds to over 30,000 inquiries from the magazine advertisements and internet each year. Each person making an inquiry receives the full-color regional visitor’s guide.
KWW operates a Welcome and Tourist Information Center at Exit 31 off I-24. The Center is open year-round and seven days a week March - October. For many visitors, our Center is their first contact in the area. Our staff encourages them to visit area attractions and businesses and aids them in making vacation plans.
KWW monitors legislative activities and lobbies for tourism-related interests. KWW serves as a liaison with both federal and state government agencies and legislators.
KWW serves as a reliable source of information for local, regional, and national media. News stories, feature articles, radio and television broadcasts about the region and its businesses often originate here. News releases and personal visits ensure wider media coverage for western Kentucky.
KWW Mission:
To promote and stimulate tourism in the 15 counties of western Kentucky.
KWW Vision:
To make the Western Lakes and Rivers Region
a leading national tourist destination.
KWW can be reached at:
721 Complex Drive• Grand Rivers, KY 42045
270-928-4411 or 800-448-1069
Fax: 270-928-4412 • E-mail: waterland@paducah.com
