Record '06 numbers for Illinois tourism
Record '06 numbers for Illinois tourism
Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press
Published June 11, 2007, 3:18 PM CDT
Illinois hosted a record 71.8 million leisure visitors in 2006, up 9 percent from the previous year due in part to stepped-up tourism marketing efforts, state officials said today.
The growth in leisure travel was 13.5 percent in Chicago and 5.5 percent downstate, according to the data from D.K. Shifflet & Associates.
Not counting international visitors, Illinois hosted 91 million domestic visitors in 2006, a 6.4 percent increase over 2005. That tally includes all U.S. visitors who came from at least 50 miles away or stayed overnight.
The increase in visitors is good news financially for the state and for local governments. State and local taxes generated almost $1.9 billion from travel spending, up $149 million from the previous year.
Overall, state officials said the domestic economic impact of tourism increased by more than $2 billion to nearly $27 billion, up 8.3 percent from 2005, based on Travel Industry Association of America data.
"The Illinois Bureau of Tourism and all of our partners are doing a tremendous job promoting Illinois to people across the state, the country and throughout the world," Gov. Rod Blagojevich said. "Tourism is thriving today as people have taken notice of all the diverse attractions we have to offer."
Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press
Published June 11, 2007, 3:18 PM CDT
Illinois hosted a record 71.8 million leisure visitors in 2006, up 9 percent from the previous year due in part to stepped-up tourism marketing efforts, state officials said today.
The growth in leisure travel was 13.5 percent in Chicago and 5.5 percent downstate, according to the data from D.K. Shifflet & Associates.
Not counting international visitors, Illinois hosted 91 million domestic visitors in 2006, a 6.4 percent increase over 2005. That tally includes all U.S. visitors who came from at least 50 miles away or stayed overnight.
The increase in visitors is good news financially for the state and for local governments. State and local taxes generated almost $1.9 billion from travel spending, up $149 million from the previous year.
Overall, state officials said the domestic economic impact of tourism increased by more than $2 billion to nearly $27 billion, up 8.3 percent from 2005, based on Travel Industry Association of America data.
"The Illinois Bureau of Tourism and all of our partners are doing a tremendous job promoting Illinois to people across the state, the country and throughout the world," Gov. Rod Blagojevich said. "Tourism is thriving today as people have taken notice of all the diverse attractions we have to offer."
posted by Carlos T Mock at 6:45 AM
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