Illinois Tourism Slows Down, Officials Admit

Springfield, IL (KWQC) – According to tourism authorities, the sector is experiencing a slowdown within the state of Illinois. They also warn that the impact of tariffs might bring about even greater challenges.

Recently, industry experts spoke with Illinois' senators, stating that hotel occupancy rates along with the count of international tourists are declining.

Keenan Irish, representing the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, mentioned that according to a updated prediction from Tourism Economics, there will be over a 9% drop in international visitors expected for 2025, even as expenses keep increasing.

“The main issues hotels encounter include labor costs, which have surged more than 30% since 2019,” Irish stated. “Additionally, borrowing expenses have almost doubled, insurance rates keep increasing, and the prices of supplies and materials are at an all-time high.”

Cory Jobe from the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau stated that this is a crucial period for Illinois to boost its tourism promotion as 2026 will mark a significant year.

Next year, North America will host soccer's World Cup, with games taking place throughout the United States," Jobe stated. "2026 marks both America's 250th anniversary and the hundred-year celebration of Route 66.

The president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, Dave Herrell, released a statement.

Quad Cities is carefully tracking the evolving landscape of international travel," stated Dave Herrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities. "Local, state, and federal policymakers must recognize that their decisions significantly affect incoming tourism from abroad." He emphasized that such visits play a crucial role both currently and going forward. Key markets including Canada, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, the UK, India, among others, contribute substantially to promoting various types of travel—group tours, corporate events, and vacation trips—to the region. In addition, Visit Quad Cities plans to participate in the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW conference set to take place in Chicago next month. The aim here is to underscore to representatives from over 70 nations that the area warmly welcomes global tourists. It has been observed that these visitors tend to linger longer and invest more during each journey compared to domestic counterparts. Moreover, current numbers indicate that international arrivals remain notably lower than pre-2019 figures—a trend expected to persist into the coming years. In fact, last year saw approximately 72.4 million overseas guests entering the US; however, projections foresee a substantial dip heading toward 2025. Such reductions could lead to decreased income as well as reduced expenditure by visiting individuals.

Dave Herrell, Explore Quad Cities