Route 66 Visitors Center already a hit; Tourism revenue rises in Bloomington-Normal

Posted on May 7, 2015
CruisinWithLincoln
The Route 66 Visitors Center has seen 885 visitors since it opened April 25. (Laura Ewan/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – The Route 66 Visitors Center has only been open for 12 days, but its already making a big impact on tourism in the area.

Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau director Crystal Howard said 885 people have visited the attraction, bringing in about $150,000 to the local economy.

“That’s with some marketing, but now that we’re open, our eyes and our direction is fully towards marketing this visitors center in multiple ways,” Howard said.

The CVB presented its 2014 annual report Thursday. Overall visitors to Bloomington-Normal is down by about 13,000 people, but revenue is up by about $129,000.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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