The Land of Lincoln reached new heights in tourism last year (2024), shattering records and creating jobs.
Record-Breaking Year for Illinois Tourism
According to a press release from Governor Pritzker's office, there were a million more visitors from the previous year, with $1.3 billion more spent than in 2023.
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Data from Tourism Economics showed that 113 million Illinois visitors in 2024 spent $48.5 billion, which boosted hotel tax revenue to an all-time high of $367 million in FY25, a 14 percent increase from the prior year.
Chicago saw a 7.7 percent increase in overnight stays, which highlighted the city's continued draw as a national and global tourism hub.
Economic Impact Across the State
Data showed th