The focus has been on the Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., in recent stories about the uncommonly strong tourism that Illinois saw in 2011.
But this excerpt in a new story by the Pontiac Daily Leader got my attention:
Locally, the city of Pontiac last year experienced a 40 percent increase in the number of visitors, and so far this year the city is on track to see a 60 percent increase over last year’s record numbers. (my emphasis)
Ellie Alexander at Pontiac Tourism gave some reasons for the continuing surge in visitors:
- The City of Pontiac attended the Chicago Auto Show and the World of Wheels. This resulted in more in-state visitors.
- The new Pontiac Oakland Auto Museum has resulted in more car clubs coming to the area.
- The city has continued to add attractions, including a Life in the 1940s exhibit at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, the Museum of Gilding Arts exhibit at the Walldog Mural Museum, a mobile device tour, and weekend trolley history tours in downtown.
- Alexander added: “The greatest asset the city of Pontiac has in regards to tourism are the local people who smile and welcome strangers they meet on the street. I have heard so many positive comments about our city’s warm hospitality.”