Tourism up more than 6 percent in Illinois
Domestic tourism up more than 6 percent in Illinois during 2012
CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois has seen another record year for tourism, with more than 99 million visitors from across the U.S. last year.
The state released the 2012 numbers on Monday. It's a 6.1 percent increase over the more than 93 million visitors in 2011. That year also was a record year.
State officials say tourism generated more than $31 billion for the Illinois economy in 2012. That's about 5 percent more than in 2011, when tourism brought in about $29.5 billion.
Tourism generated $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2012.
The total number of international visitors to Illinois will be released later this year.
