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* Citing data compiled by D.K. Shifflet & Associates, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism Industries and the U.S. Travel Association, Gov. Pat Quinn announced that tourism is way up in Illinois…

• Illinois hosted more than 93.3 million visitors in 2011, a 10.2 percent increase from 2010 and the highest level on record, surpassing the previous record of 91 million visitors in 2006.

• Leisure travel in Illinois was up 11.8 percent and business travel was up 4.4 percent.

• Illinois’ tourism industry generated nearly $31.8 billion in revenue in 2011, an increase of 8.4 percent, or nearly $2.5 billion.

• State and local tax revenues from tourism totaled more than $2.3 billion in 2011, an increase of more than $300 million.

• The total tourism tax revenue (federal, state and local) saves the average Illinois household more than $1,100 in taxes each year.

• Illinois’ tourism industry created an additional 4,490 jobs. Tourism industry jobs increased 1.6 percent to 291,990.

• The number of overseas visitors to Illinois rose 6 percent to 1,255,000, the highest level since 2008.

• Visitor volume outside the City of Chicago was up 9.4 percent, with leisure travel leading the way with an increase of 10.6 percent.

• City of Chicago domestic volume was up 11.2 percent, drawing 42.4 million visitors. Business travel was up 5.1 percent while leisure travel was up 13.5 percent.

• The City of Chicago hosted 1,199,000 overseas visitors in 2011, a 6 percent increase over 2010 arrivals.

* The Question: Have you, or do you plan to do any Illinois touring this summer? If so, where did you go and what did you do? If not, why not? Also, did you host any tourists?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:34 am

Comments

Jan Kostner take a bow. Great work!

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:37 am
Myy vacations are taken outside of IL and generally out of the country.
That being said—I never have been to Springfield.

Comment by Belle Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:40 am
Does Quinn get any credit for this double-digit increase? I’m confident Chairman Brady can tell us why this healthy increase in tourism to our fair state is actually another indication of “the Chicago way.”

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:42 am
To date this year, all my weekend trips have been out of State, mostly Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. Before the sumemr is over, I may do a day trip or two in central / southern Illinois … but we’d have to have milder weather first.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:47 am
Not planning on doing any touring in Illinois. Most of the places I would like to see are in disrepair or limited hours due to budget cuts.

I prefer to go north to Wisconsin. Their sites are all open and in very good condition. I don’t mind paying the annual fee for a park pass when the areas are so well maintained.

Yes I work in the tourism industry in a way. I manage sites that tourists should want to visit, but parts are closed and what is open is in sad condition. I also question the figures. From what I have seen locals were taking shorter trips due to gas prices in 2011 and out of town folks were not visiting due to closures and site conditions.

If tourism is such a big deal then why has this Governor severely cut the budget of the Agency responsible for most of the state’s destination sites? Or he has taken money out of that Agencies budget to give to collar county and Chicago parks for bocce ball courts? How many tourists do you think go to Melrose Park to play Bocce ball?

Comment by Irish Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:53 am
How long does a layover in O’Hare have to last before you’re considered a “visitor”?

Comment by Anonymice Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:59 am
I explained to a visitor just today how to get from the corner on which we were standing to the Aquarium. I run into a lot of tourists on my way to work.

I want to go spend a longish weekend in Springfield some time soon.

Comment by Cheryl Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 12:08 pm
I recently was treated to a surprise visit to Galena. Had a wonderful time. However, was not able to visit Grant’s Home because it was closed on Monday’s due to budget cuts.

Comment by onevoter Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 12:30 pm
I’ll take this opportunity to shill for the state fair coming up early next month. You can drive or take Amtrak down from Chicago. If you pick a downtown Springfield hotel, there’s easy bus or taxi service to the fairgrounds and back.

If you’ve never been to Springfield or the fair, it would make a good weekend package to come down and do the fair for the day Saturday morning, see a grandstand show there that night, stay in a hotel and check out the Capitol building, the Dana-Thomas house by Wright, and some Lincoln sites like the museum and tomb on Sunday, via the special bus/tram service.

Then catch the late train coming back up to Chicago Sunday evening.

Comment by Newsclown Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 12:32 pm
I get around the state a little connected to work, and do some weekend wandering here.

Vacations, when I go on them, usually involve going somewhere elese.

Comment by titan Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 12:38 pm
=== Does Quinn get any credit for this double-digit increase? ===

There is no indication that Quinn is or is not responsible for any increase in tourism.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 12:38 pm
I’m on my second college recruiting tour, so I’ve been to Northern (always stop at Twin Tavern for great food and cold beer) and U of I so far and will probably fit in a trip to Knox in August.

Went to Apple Canyon Lake by Stockton last weekend. That place has gotten way too crowded over the years with too much power on the main channel. It’s like being on the Dan Ryan in a boat.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 12:47 pm
The total tourism tax revenue (federal, state and local) saves the average Illinois household more than $1,100 in taxes each year.

Where do I apply for my refud?

In answer to your question have takena week end to Rend Lake this Spring. Very nice both fishing and golf. Spend way to much time in Chicago to enjoy it anymore.

Comment by downstate hack Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:00 pm
Wordslinger — can’t go wrong with Twin Tavern in DeKalb it was my favorite place to go for a beer when I was in college and I didn’t want to be around college kids.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:07 pm
Last year, I finally visited the Illinois State Fair. It was pretty fun and educational too: I didn’t even know Boyz2Men was still together and doing shows.

Comment by Veil of Ignorance Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:25 pm
Actually planning a swing through Shawnee with my camera in the next few days. Several spots I’ve been meaning to visit over the years but just never got around to it.

Comment by Former Titan Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:29 pm
Shedd Aquarium and the Iroquois County Fair are my only real Illinois “touristy” things so far this summer. Planning my first ever trip to the Madison County Fair this Friday.

I guess I’ve been remiss. Oops.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:32 pm
Seems right. I am in the South Loop of Chicago each work day and the tourists pulling their wheeled luggage with the kids in tow are sometimes enough to block the sidewalk. The Willis Tower is a favorite stop. You see them constantly consulting a PDA (presumably equipped with GPS).
Because money is tight, we took a trip up to the Dells. But a family from Minnesota stayed in our house while we were gone. They were here for some rip-roaring librarian event.
And the folks we visit in the Dells are often with us in Skokie.
Antioch this weekend at the Chain O Lakes.
If we could the eliminate the corrupt politics, insane property taxes and dysfuntional economy, Illinois would be a paradise year round. Well, almost.

Comment by cook county commoner Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:34 pm
I did go to the White Sox game on Monday, so should I count that since I no longer live in the city?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:34 pm
Have visited Southern IL and plan on going to Chicago and Springfield for short visits this summer.

Comment by Just a Citizen Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 1:50 pm
Biking from River Forest to Lake Geneva this weekend.

Comment by LakeviewJ Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 2:00 pm
===the tourists pulling their wheeled luggage with the kids in tow are sometimes enough to block the sidewalk===

It took me 45 minutes Saturday afternoon to drive from just south of Soldier Field to my old building at Michigan and Randolph.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 2:10 pm
Chicago is a world class tourist destination, very hard to compete with it for world travelers.

That said, Downstate has some surprisingly nice places to visit and at value prices to boot. Some that come to mind immediately: Bishop Hill and Nauvoo are both very interesting frontier stories and sites. Moline, Galesburg, and Peoria all have enough attractions to cover a weekend, assuming you plan your trip accordingly. And Springfield can keep a family busy for a weekend in just the Lincoln Sites alone, and there’s much more to see here than Abe’s legacy. I still love Wisconsin, but downstate Illinois is less crowded and more affordable. Although I must admit that recently, it hasn’t been any cooler……

Comment by Downstate Surveyor Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 2:10 pm
Was up and down Chicago’s Michigan Avenue the past two days for work and the number of foreign tourists was unbelievable. Heard at least 3 different languages on 1 block.

They were probably all asking “So which way to Navy Pier?”, but still there’s an impressive number of overseas tourists making a stop in Chicago this summer.

Comment by Chicago Bars Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 2:11 pm
I plan to spend some time in the Vandalia area. I take at least 1 trip a year to vist parts of Illinois.Chinatown an Greek Town are great places to take friends.

Comment by mokenavince Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 2:46 pm
This is good news. Just hide your smartphones touristas.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 2:47 pm
I’m glad to see that Illinois tourism has been increasing. I did an architectural river cruise in Chicago this past Saturday. Owing to the attacks on Illinois and public sector workers by two of our neighbor states, I plan to spend my tourism dollars in Illinois, when I’m not traveling abroad.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:01 pm
Just visited Bloomington for the Civil War Days reenactment at the David Davis Mansion. Also took in a play at the Shakespeare Festival and some blues at the Nothin’But the Bluesfest. Much easier than getting around Chicago and easy to get to on Amtrak.

Comment by lincolnlover Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:08 pm
I have vacation property in Iowa, right on the Mississippi, so I do spend a fair amount of time in Nauvoo (Baxters!), and Henderson County. It has some really nice biking areas.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:12 pm
I defected for one Cubs game at Wrigley.

(Being a native South sider who frequents “The Cell” this is out of my territory)

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:21 pm
If the wife and I do more than a day trip it is more often than not somewhere out of state. We did a day trip to the Metro east last weekend in fact.

Being old car types we go to auto shows in other states a few times a year and while there promote the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield. This is a three day event in late September that draws about 1000 old cars to the downtown street fest. We own Opels and I know our group has grown over the years from 6-7 cars to as many as 25. These folks come from WI,MI,IN,MO,PA.OH,IA, and some other states. They find the time and the location to be good and if the spouse is less than thrilled with old cars there are other things to see within walking distance.

Anyway IL has a lot going for it. I did kind of have to laugh at this. While in Terre Haute IN I talked with some college age folks who were going to make a day trip to Springfield to try something called a “Horseshoe” at Darcy’s Pint.
The Hometown claim to fame.

Comment by Bemused Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:28 pm
Cermak, doing some reading recently I found that Mitt Romney’s great-great-grandfather, Miles, was instrumental in building the first temple in Nauvoo.

After the Illinois Mormon War, he walked with his family to the Great Salt Lake Valley (no Red Roof Inns or Stuckeys on that trip).

When you’re on the Illinois history trail, Nauvoo is a key stop as part of the incredibly ripping yarn of early Mormons in America.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:33 pm
I was down exploring the French Colonial District in southwest Illinois earlier this year and would like to go again this fall before the historic sites get closed for lack of staffing and maintenance. The Pierre Menard Home, Cahokia Courthouse and Ft. de Chartres are relatively unknown (and apparently unappreciated)treasures.

Comment by Skirmisher Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 3:46 pm
I’m too scared of the ISRA to leave my home.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 4:14 pm
Will be heading to Giant City State Park for a late summer camping trip. I hope the burn ban will be lifted soon, I love cooking over an open fire, but the drought has impaired that.

OneMan and Wordslinger, Twin is one of the best in DeKalb. If you’ve been to Twin, are you turtles?

Comment by NIref Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 4:16 pm
Doesn’t anyone fish here? I regularly hit Lake Shelbyville, Rend Lake and other Illinois waterways.

Comment by LINK Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 4:46 pm
Going to Iowa this weekend for a poker tourney. Large poker tournaments aren’t allowed in Illinois. And gas is way cheaper over there too.

Comment by InTheMiddle Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 4:50 pm
Bemused,

Same thing … that’s why I was in Ohio and Indiana earlier this year, the old cars. Luckily the wife is into cars most the time. Back in 2011 I got our car club to hold their national convention here, so for once I didn’t have to travel (I’m on the Board of Directors and have to show up). The wife planned a day of women’s events for the ones who weren’t into the cars. Everyone enjoyed it and we’re talking about a return engagement in four or five years.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 5:24 pm
My wife and I are going to Springfield to see (again) the Lincoln Museum in August. I am then, in November, taking my wife and my sons and their spouse/dates to do it again for a family thing.

Can’t get enough of that place!

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 5:34 pm
ooops anon 534 was me…

Comment by mongo Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 5:39 pm
Going to Galena in August for a 41st anniversary getaway, just a couple of days, and stay in a B&B. Our usual place to go though is the Gatlinburg area.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 6:44 pm
Tourism within Illinois — by Illinoisans — is probably up because people can’t afford to go on longer trips this year. Illinois has plenty of interesting destinations to entertain people.

Comment by Chuck Sweeny Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 7:00 pm
Took a camping/fishing trip to Carlyle Lake over 4th of July. The beach at Carlyle Lake on the 4th of July was filled to capacity. From the looks of the cars in the parking area, lots of visitors from St. Louis. At least they brought something to that area, from the looks of the crops at that point in time, agriculture’s taking a hit this year!

Comment by Bob Loblaw Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 9:29 pm
We try to attend the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington a couple times each summer, and there is outdoor theater at New Salem and summer theater at Krannert Center at U of I. Easily accessible, tickets are reasonable and available and performances are good.

Comment by In the Sticks Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 9:33 pm
=How long does a layover in O’Hare have to last before you’re considered a “visitor”?=

It obviously depends on whether vendors are allowed to board the plane while you’re still on it to sell their goods.

“Cigars…cigarettes?”

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 10:44 pm
RNUG
The Opel Motorsport Club will be holding their National meet in conjunction with the Route 66 Mother Road Fest in 2013. As the local guy I get to do the leg work. Should up the total number of room nights for that year.

This years meet is in Northern Georgia in October. We get to do 10-12 hours drive one way in a 40 year old no A/C Opel. Hope the heat breaks by then.

Comment by Bemused Wednesday, Jul 25, 12 @ 11:01 pm
We’ve been to Lake Shelbyville, Dawson Lake, Clinton Lake, and Allerton Park this summer, but our main vacation was to Ithaca, New York where we spent our time going from amazing state park to the next amazing state park. Treman State Park was the highlight of the trip and we went twice because you can go off the diving board into a waterfall. The locals complained about the heat and drought, but to us it was lush and green and cool with highs in the low 80s most days.

Comment by Rayne of Terror Thursday, Jul 26, 12 @ 7:18 am