Numbers from the Illinois Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism released yesterday show that Knox County tourism saw tremendous growth in 2015.
In several categories such as jobs supported by tourism, dollars spent by visitors and local tax receipts, Knox County is growing well above Illinois as a whole.
Only the counties of Macon, Montgomery and Ogle had more annual growth in these areas.
Visitors spent $78 million in Knox County in 2015 which is a six percent increase over 2014.
520 local jobs are supported by tourism, 40 more than the previous year.
Also local tax receipts reached $1.79 million last year, about $150,000 more than in 2014.
Galesburg Tourism Director Bill Morris credits the success to “strong marketing” and forming partnerships with “local events committees.”
The entirety of Illinois generated about $37 billion in 2015.
Illinois Tourism Director Corey Jobe says tourism is state’s “greatest champion” of drawing visitors that support and grow local economies.
