Illinois woos Canadians amid travel slowdown

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released a new video focused on Canadian travelers.

Despite a growing, albeit unofficial travel boycott to the US, Illinois is at pains to assure Canadians a warm welcome like always.

The video roll out during National Travel and Tourism Week .

Pritzker emphasized Canadian tourists’ significant role in supporting local businesses and cultural attractions statewide.

“I don’t blame anyone from Canada whose appetite for visiting the U.S. might have soured—with our current president and the shameful way he’s represented us on the national stage,” he said.

I want to reassure you that we’re as eager as ever to have you come here. Here in Illinois, we’re ready and eager to prove that Midwest nice is the closest thing to Canadian hospitality you can get south of Windsor.”

It comes as Illinois continues to see record-breaking growth in tourism. According to Tourism Economics, Illinois welcomed 112 million domestic and international visitors in 2023, who spent $47 billion—up $3 billion from the previous year.

Visitor spending generated $4.6 billion in state and local tax revenue and stimulated various sectors of the state’s economy, directly supporting more than 278,200 jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Canada is the state’s top international market.

Illinois welcomed 2.16 million international travelers in 2023, with more than half a million people (627,000) from Canada alone.

llinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards added: “We’re proud to welcome Canadian visitors to experience everything that makes Illinois so unique, diverse, and memorable.”

To boost arrivals the Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT) is launching a new social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram in Canada, featuring the state’s Middle of Everything campaign and messaging that highlights Illinois as a welcoming destination.

Additionally, IOT recently launched a campaign in partnership with Expedia and Brand USA targeting Canadians who are planning trips to the U.S. with ads on popular platforms like Spotify, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

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