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Illinois Tourism Sets Another Record

The Field Museum in Chicago is one of the state's most popular attractions.
Jenna Dooley
/
WNIJ
The Field Museum in Chicago is one of the state's most popular attractions.

There were more than 100 million visitors to Illinois in 2013. State agencies aim to grow those numbers more in the face of budget cuts. 

For the third year in a row, Illinois broke its own record for visitors to the state. In 2013, travelers spent $34.5 billion dollars in Illinois, according to the state's office of tourism.

The Field Museum in Chicago is one of the state's most popular attractions.
Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
/
WNIJ
The Field Museum in Chicago is one of the state's most popular attractions.

Though Illinois' new budget provides less for the state's Historic Preservation Agency, and the tourist attractions and museums under it, there have not yet been closures.  However there has been talk of curbing hours of operation later this year. 

"We want to continue to attract more and more visitors to the state of Illinois so that that demand stays high and so that does not need to happen," said Jen Hoelzle with the Illinois Office of Tourism.

Hoelzlesays tourism has rebounded and has exceeded pre-recession levels.

Copyright 2014 WNIJ Northern Public Radio

Hannah covers state government and politics for NPR Illinois and Illinois Public Radio. She previously covered the statehouse for The Daily Line and Law360, and also worked a temporary stint at the political blog Capitol Fax in 2018.