Illinois tourism officers say that industry tends this year

(The Center Square) – Tourism officers say that the industry slows down in Illinois and the effects of tariffs could be even more harmful.

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Office of Tourism, 112 million domestic and international visitors spent 47 billion dollars in 2023.

During a recent special committee for the Senate of Illinois Senate for Tourism Hurry, Keenan Irish, Vice President of Government Relations and Member goods for the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, Illinois said a decline in the previous year in January, and now the industry was concerned about tariffs.

“If certain economic measures increase the costs of the goods, our members report that planned renovation projects would be adjusted, delayed or require more expensive funds,” said Irish.

Irish found that Chicago had the lowest utilization rates of the top 10 congress markets in the first quarter of 2025, and a revised forecast from the tourism industry shows a decline in international arrivals in the rest of the year by more than 9%.

Cory Jobe with the tourist office of the Great Rivers and Routes in the Metro East said that it was a critical time for Illinois to increase its tourism advertising efforts because 2026 will be a big year.

“North America will organize the World Cup of football next year. In the United States, America's birthday, the hundred years of Route 66, which begins in Chicago and we have 301 miles in Illinois and many other events,” said Jobe.

Legislators are considering that the Ministry of Commerce of Illinois and the economic possibilities would require a congress and tourist office that receives a grant from the local tourism fund in the financial year and then economic possibilities.

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