It's Nasty Out There

Illinois Tourism...once referred to as the land of milk and funding, is now a pale version of its once proud self. The State's fiscal woes (now eclipsing California's) have caused the administration to shut down all future tourism advertising.

Payments to the once legendary DMO grant program are months in arrears. The Tourism Information Centers have been closed. The Call Center contract has been canceled. And Visitors Guides and other collateral will no longer be mailed out.

Sadder than all this is that industry representatives, who have a proud history of successfully communicating the importance of tourism to public officials, are being urged to not contact their legislators.

Because they're so not listening anymore...at the moment in time when increasing tourism is one of their only opportunities to generate cash to close the budget gap.

Sigh.