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Illinois Enjoys Record Tourism Dollars in '08
Tourism is big business in Illinois despite the bad economy.

State tourism officials recently announced the numbers for 2008 - a record setting $30.8 billion and about 88 million tourists.

Jan Kostner, director of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, says there is more to Illinois than a former governor whose wife is on a reality t-v show.

"People really know Illinois also is a Lincoln state, and that also does a great job for us, and President (Barack) Obama and his (presidential) win has also been very good for us...people still want to travel, they love history (and) we're really going towards the target."

Officials say besides interest in Lincoln and Obama, the state is doing well during the recession because of the bureau's consistent ad campaigns. Research from the U-S Travel Association shows people still want to travel, but they are taking shorter vacations closer to home.

The bureau's local tourism manager Jan Kemmerling says that's good for Illinois, which offers three-day getaways throughout the Land of Lincoln. More information is available at www.enjoyillinois.com.

Kostner says the increased tourism revenue generated an additional $33 million in state and local taxes last year.
06 22 09 by Newsroom
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