The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism has announced the opening of its first overseas office in New Delhi. India is one of the top five markets (Canada, Mexico, India, U.K., and Germany) for the destination and show growth over recent years. From 2019 to 2023, Indian visitation surged 55 percent.

In 2023, Illinois welcomed 112 million domestic and international visitors representing spending of $47 billion, an increase of 1 million visitors and $3 billion in spending, according to data provided by Tourism Economics. Of that total visitation, 2.16 million were international visitors, a 39 percent increase over the year previous.

This strategic international expansion aims to underscore the positioning of Illinois, attract more interest, and further enhance the state’s global tourism profile.

In other Illinois tourism news, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Tourism announced via social media platforms that it stands with the LGBTQIA+ community. Indicating that “All are welcome in Illinois,” the state responded after Visit Florida removed LGBTQIA+ travel resources from its website, raising concerns about who is truly welcome in the Sunshine State.