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Logan County tourism dollars jump for 2nd year
By Kevin Barlow
kbarlow@pantagraph.com
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LINCOLN -- The approaching 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and renewed interest in Route 66 boost tourist interest — and spending — in Logan County, a local tourism official said.

Illinois Bureau of Tourism reported that the tourism industry funneled $29.5 million into Logan County from June 2006 to June 2007, said Geoff Ladd, Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau director.

“That represents a 5.8 percent increase from the year before, and so we are very happy with those numbers,” he said. “Of course, we always want more, but we are expecting another bump next year.”

Ladd said the numbers include money spent on lodging, meals and miscellaneous other items.

It’s the second year in a row the numbers have increased for Logan County.

“I think the key to the whole increase is the rise in traffic we have seen for the Route 66 sites,” Ladd said. “There have been a couple of things — both within our control and out of our control — which have increased the interest level there. For instance, the movie ‘Cars’ was a boost.”

The 2006 Disney animated feature film produced by Pixar includes several scenes related to Route 66.

“That’s something that just fell into line for us and of course, we expect another increase with the Lincoln birthday celebration,” Ladd said. “There’s a lot to see here and our philosophy has been to package both Abraham Lincoln and Route 66 together.

“People are interested in both.”

Ladd says the more lodging a city has, the more opportunity there is to attract tourism dollars. The county received a boost in June with the opening of the new 64-room Hampton Inn near Interstate 55.

“Tourism and hotels can work hand in hand and benefit from each other,” said Jenna McGraw, director of operations with the new hotel. “Before we even opened, we began working with Geoff so that we are familiar with what attractions are available and we can inform our guests about them, which makes their stay more pleasant.”

The new hotel also will add to the payroll figures related to tourism. In fiscal 2006, the estimated tourism-related payroll for Logan County was $3.57 million, which was a 3.4 percent increase from the previous year.

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Reader comments on this story - 1 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

My Two Cents wrote on Jul 18, 2008 2:14 PM:

" Kiss it all goodbye when you start littering the landscape with hundreds and hundreds of 400-500 foot tall industrial power plants called wind turbines. It will be the last economic development the county will see, driving up the cost of farming, driving down property values, and driving citizens out of the county. Can't wait to see a huge Tony the Tiger balloon snagged on the top of a propellor blade spinning around 150 mph. I'll buy tickets for that. "
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