Statewide Tourism Down

By Margaret Lyons in News on Jun 9, 2008 11:00PM

Fewer domestic tourists visited Illinois last year than the year before, down 5 percent to 68.1 million. Our miles after magnificent miles aren't doing it for people anymore?

Chicago's tourist volume was flat in 2007 at 32.8 million, following a 13.4% increase from 2005 to 2006. But a nearly 9% increase in business travelers last year pushed up the city's overall traveler volume 2.2% over 2006, to 45.1 million people.

We're more popular with international travelers than we were last year, with 1.14 million foreign visitors in 2007, which is up 8 percent from 2006. [Crain's]