Tourism agencies from across southern and eastern Kentucky are working on projects to develop the growing industry.

Tour Southern and Eastern Kentucky started more than 20 years ago to try and capitalize on the tourism opportunities in the area. Every year, the organization hosts a forum to celebrate the industry.

Officials say Monday was the biggest crowd they have ever had. It's a culmination of tourist agencies' work from the past year. Congressman Hal Rogers is excited to see so many people promoting tourism.

"Sharing of ideas, promotions, and sharing of regions together. It's just a wonderful thing to see people working together for the common good," Rogers said.

Rogers presented awards totaling about $260,000 to many of the more than 300 people that came to the forum.

"Revitalization of downtowns, education about how to make their downtowns grow and have businesses in," Tour SEKY CEO Jeff Crowe said.

Barbourville Tourism was awarded $10,000, and officials are excited to continue projects and start new ones.

"We would not be able to do the red bud without this funding, the Appalachian Craft Counsel, this will be a big boost for it. Then the creation of the trails," Betty Cole said.

Congressman Rogers says that even though the economy affected state finances, tourism profited in the past year.

"Tourism money spent here increased by almost 4%, and that's doggone good news, considering the economy," Rogers said.

"Instead of people taking longer trips, they take shorter trips. Trips they can take in a day so that really in effect helped us a lot," Cole said.

"We have just as much to offer in Kentucky, and I think people are now trying to get on board to capture that market and what to do with it," Crowe said.

Crowe says tourism continues to grow each year, and he expects to see even more people to come to the forum next November. He adds that tourism is a $10 billion industry in Kentucky, with more than $1 billion of that coming from the Tour SEKY area, which covers 47 counties.