By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – More people visited Illinois last year than ever before, a record that state officials said helped boost the state’s economy and create jobs.
State tourism numbers show nearly 114 million people traveled to Illinois in 2017. That’s up 1.4 percent from 2016, which also was a record year.
“Tourism is a critical part of our economy,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said in a statement. “There is so much to see and do in our state. It is gratifying to know that so many people come here each year to experience what we have to offer.”
Illinois Office of Tourism Director Cory Jobe said marketing helped drive the increase.
“We really attribute the growth to our overall new brand campaign where we ask the question, ‘Illinois, are you up for amazing?’ ” he said.
Illinois Tourism’s “Up for Amazing” advertising campaign launched in March 2017. It targeted 14 domestic and five international markets.
“The spring/summer campaign was extremely successful with every dollar invested delivering nearly $9 in economic impact for our state,” Jobe said.
Another ad campaign, called Illinois Made, highlighted experiences, places and products that are unique to Illinois.
Other ads focused on travel in different seasons and inclusion by aiming to attract more LGBTQ tourists to Illinois.
Jobe said many Illinoisans chose to play tourist here by traveling to other parts of their home state for vacation.
“You can get to many of our unique destinations, our hot spot destinations within a 70-minute to three-hour drive, and that’s proven in the numbers that we see,” Jobe said.
All of those tourists spent $39.5 million, according to the U.S. Travel Association. That’s an increase of $1.1 billion, or 3 percent, from 2016. That spending generated $2.95 billion in state and local tax revenue, up $75 million from 2016.
The industry also helped to create jobs. The Illinois tourism industry supported 335,500 jobs in 2017.
“Just in the past three and a half years alone we’ve created over 18,500 new jobs,” Jobe said.
Tourism figures show 83 percent of tourists visited Illinois for pleasure and the rest traveled here on business. In the past decade, tourism has become one of the state’s most important industries, according to the Illinois Office of Tourism.
