A visitor during a special meeting at the Fischer Theater this past Tuesday afternoon (November 28th) says that so many people, both nationally and around the world, are desiring to see more of the Midwest. Daniel Thomas, Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, says Illinois is a big reason for that. Thomas says it goes well beyond Chicago and other big cities. He says Illinois has things people HEAR about all the time. But more and more, they would love to come here and SEE them.
AUDIO: Visitors are looking for those quintessential experiences that they can’t experience in every other state. Because it is about those small town charms; it’s those main streets, it’s history, it’s culture. You know, with 69 state parks, seven scenic byways, Route 66, the mighty Mississippi and the Great River Road; visitors globally are really looking to the midwest.
And with great news locally, such as the recent announcement on funding for the completion of the Kickapoo Rail Trail, Danville Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau CEO Jeanie Cooke couldn’t agree more. She said it was a great visit with the state tourism deputy director.
AUDIO: He announced a new Vermilion County Makers Winner, and that would be in Georgetown at Big Thorn. We also won one for Mad Goat Coffee. He had dinner at Salt Grass; he walked a rail trail.
Cooke says Thomas is planning to come back for another tourism visit to Vermilion County this coming spring.
