Tourism

Grafton’s mayor said the city has raised about $130,000 so far. If the city meets its goals, it will finish the new memorial, museum and plaza in the next four years.

Along with the rest of the state, southwest Illinois’ tourism industry continues to see a solid bounce back following a pandemic lull, according to the latest figures released for 2022.

The highs for Illinois tourism come after dramatic drop-off in revenue during the pandemic.

The Osage Beach Board of Aldermen has approved a redevelopment plan for the lakefront project near the Grand Glaize Bridge. Plans for the 25-acre property include restaurants, a Ferris wheel, a waterpark with a retractable roof and a 400-room Marriott hotel.

Last year’s event drew around 102,000 people to the venue over the course of the weekend, and nearly 60,000 for Sunday's main event. That’s comparable to a major playoff game in any other major sport.

The professional theater group will use the tourism development award to make space for art forms outside of plays and musicals, including visual arts, storytelling and even cooking.

The Regional Arts Commission gets most of its funding from the hotel-motel tax. With tourism down since the outset of the pandemic, a new marketing campaign aims to raise the profile of St. Louis as an arts destination.

The project includes a new visitors center for the city and outdoor gathering areas.

The city of Kimmswick was depending on a port recently opened to riverboats to boost its economy, but with Mississippi River water levels near record lows, few of the boats are stopping there.

The first NASCAR Cup Series race in the St. Louis area packed hotels and restaurants. A study from Maryville University estimated that the regional economic impact of the three-day event could be as much as $60 million.