Tourism Contributes $52 Million In Economic Impact

The Illinois Office of Tourism released 2023 economic impact numbers for the State of Illinois last week as well as Stephenson County's share of that growth. In 2023, visitors spent $52 million in Stephenson County – a 3.6 percent increase over 2022. This follows a nine percent increase in revenue from 2021 to 2022.

The direct tourism spending of $52 million exceeds all records in Stephenson County. The total revenue figures include spending for lodging, food and beverage, recreation, retail, and transit received from visitors who live 50+ miles from Stephenson County. In addition, the tourism...