Tourism spending up in Lake County

Visitor spending in Lake County increased nearly 7 percent in 2010 to $1.06 billion, according to figures released by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism.

“This signifies the importance that tourism plays in Lake County and demonstrates that families will still continue to take yearly vacations,” said Maureen Riedy, president of Visit Lake County.

Still, Cook and DuPage counties are ahead of Lake for tourism spending. According the state, Lake County supports 10,090 tourism-related jobs. The county and municipalities received $23.3 million in local tax receipts from visitors to the area. State tax receipts in Lake County generated $59.4 million.