The city of Chicago had another record-breaking year in 2018, as nearly 58 million people visited the area, according to data released by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration on Thursday.
The report, compiled by the mayor’s office and Choose Chicago, revealed that 57.7 million people visited Chicago during 2018. That number represents an increase of 2.4 million visitors over the previous year, and sets a new record for the city in that category.
“Tourism in Chicago creates jobs throughout our city,” Emanuel said in a statement. “By continuing to set new tourism records and bring millions more people to Chicago every year, we are generating economic opportunities that reach every Chicago neighborhood.”
According to the mayor’s office, tourism supports over 150,000 jobs in Chicago, and the city says that overall hotel occupancy went up by 4.4 percent over the previous year.
“The impact of our tourism, meetings, and hospitality industry is increasingly noticeable,” Choose Chicago CEO David Whitaker said. “The visitor economy helps fuel the ability for Chicago’s tourism and entertainment assets to thrive.”
