Tourism product development key to regional recovery, resiliency

Tourism took a significant strike all through the pandemic but it’s now on the rebound. We are observing a renewed sentiment amongst travelers to strike the street yet again and investigate new areas and have new activities. Lodges in our region report that they are starting to bounce back to pre-pandemic occupancy amounts. Regionally owned and operated small companies and dining places are obtaining back again on their ft and celebrating a return to standard functions.

Possibly the most phenomenal news is the amount of new businesses opening in our area proper now. We are observing advancement in the number of new restaurants and lodges that are opening their doorways in southwest Illinois. The Sports activities tourism overall economy is prepared to explode in our area as new tournaments are eyeing the space for forthcoming multi-million-dollar functions. A few big river cruise strains are preparing more than 60 stops in our region this 12 months on your own bringing 1000’s of new travelers to the region with an financial impression in the tens of millions.

Southwest Illinois is literally on the precipice of getting the Upcoming Wonderful Place and the suitable spot to visit, dwell and elevate a family.

It’s essential that the people of the region appreciate what new product or service growth will do for the livability of our nearby communities and the location as a entire. Lively residing facilities are very sought following by young people, retirees and new start out-ups. This isn’t just about people, modest enterprises and revenues – it’s about livability and improved top quality of existence for people today who live below.

To give our six-county area that livability edge, we know we have to have to be ahead imagining and develop new tourism goods, methods and considering all-around outside recreation, character-dependent tourism, and Route 66. Route 66 will switch 100 several years outdated in 2026. Route 66 is just one of quite a few Corridors of Chance in the area along with Illinois Route 3 and U.S. Route 67.

Southwest Illinois is ideally situated to come to be an outdoor recreation mecca. As we communicate, we have hundreds of miles of nationally acknowledged biking and climbing trails by means of Madison County Transit and

the Metro East Parks and Recreation District. We have a few mighty rivers traversing the area forming a wonderful confluence of rivers that launched a nation with the Lewis and Clark expedition. We are dwelling to 3 point out parks – which includes the major – Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton and in all probability just one of the oldest, and a UNESCO Earth Heritage Internet site at Cahokia Mounds. We host two Federal Wildlife Refuges and a 50,000-acre footprint of Corps of Engineers Open up Space. We have the only outside rock-climbing trails within a 100-mile radius. The area is dwelling to two major water parks and several splash pads. Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield is a premier family recreation location supplying boating, fishing, tenting, and lodging. We are sitting proper on the Mississippi River Nationwide Drinking water Trail which is staying learned by additional and extra paddlers.

For all those searching for nature-primarily based tourism and on-the-water river adventures, scenic bicycle rides and climbing adventures, this location is ideally located to expose by itself as an vital energetic residing heart. Item development in these parts would incorporate a kayak/canoe outfitter and straightforward river entry. Accessibility to bike rentals would also be crucial.

The Previous 100 Miles of historic Route 66 is primed for a new target and products growth via a $919,000 grant from the Condition of Illinois. With these money, an interactive Route 66 Visitor Center and show will be designed in Edwardsville. Carlinville’s historic and quirky Cannonball Jail will obtain upgrades and open up for the 1st time to the general public. Twelve postcard-fashion murals will be painted on historic Route 66 structures in 12 different communities and 6 metallic monuments depicting the typical Route 66 protect will discover homes in crucial towns. People tasks will be a essential piece to increasing customer engagement alongside the Mother Highway and launching our location to the Centennial celebration in 2026.

Which is not all, of system. The Point out of Illinois recognizes these assets and has not long ago furnished a $10 million State funds appropriation earmarked for development of the Assembly of the Fantastic Rivers Countrywide Scenic Byway among Hartford and Alton. These cash will support us redefine this historic Countrywide Byway and enable us increase present tourism products and solutions together with the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, the Lewis & Clark Point out Historic Internet site and Piasa Park in Alton. The money are also supposed to allow the location to create the Port of Alton for cruise ship access and carry on to increase the Alton riverfront as a spot for vacationers. We are also well positioned to contend for more Federal Byway funds in collaboration with the area, point out, and federal agency associates.

We have a good deal of function to do in the coming months. We just can’t hold out years to construct the place we can and need to be. It will choose all of us doing the job jointly. We know this location and the Wonderful Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is up for the challenge.

Let us all occur together to get this performed — we are now on our way — and making the Future Good Spot in southwest Illinois is within our grasp!

Cory Jobe put in over 20 several years in Illinois state government and is the previous Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. Jobe is currently President and CEO of the Wonderful Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois which incorporates Madison, Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Calhoun and Greene Counties and the Metropolis of East St. Louis in St. Clair County.