Chicago on track to meet mayor's 50 million visitor milestone by 2020
Skift Take
Chicago’s tourism rebound is almost complete with leisure and business travel contributing to the 6.1 percent visitor; the city plans to continue its aggressive campaign strategies that are believed to have lifted business to its current levels.
Chicago hosted a near-record 46.2 million visitors last year, with growth in overnight leisure travel driving the city back to pre-recession levels.
The total is a 6.1 percent increase over 2011, and brings the city close to its 2007 record of 46.3 million visitors, according to data to be unveiled Tuesday by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Choose Chicago, the nonprofit that sells the city as a travel destination.
The city hosted nearly 18 million overnight vacationers, up 10.2 percent from 2011. Day trips by leisure travelers rose as well, by 4 percent, to 16.1 million, said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Choose Chicago.
On the business
