On Air Now

State tourism director says travelers look for ‘authentic experience’

We may not have a budget but visitors to Illinois don’t have to know that.
Tourism around the state is up even amidst the never-ending Illinois budget impasse.

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Illinois Tourism Director Corey Jobe announced earlier in the week that 110 million domestic visitors came to Illinois in 2016.

That’s 1 million more than the previous year, generating $2.6 billion in tax revenue 83 percent of which are leisure visitors.

Where are they going? 

“It’s a little bit of everywhere to be honest with you and it’s exciting because 83 percent were leisure visitors,” Jobe says. “That’s a number we were pretty surprised with.”

He takes this as a sign that ad campaigns like “Illinois Made” are working.

That was a series of ads showing the state through the eyes of the craftsmen, makers and entrepreneurs.

72 percent of travelers today he says want to travel for a unique, authentic experience and he says those can be found in every part of the state.

He says often this means visiting small crafters and makers like craft breweries, glass blowing shops and wineries.

This is National Travel and Tourism Week.

Recommended Posts

Loading...

Share Contact

contact-chris-mcintyre-qr-code