Chinese tourists in La Salle County?

With the number of foreign tourists coming to Illinois on the rise, the La Salle County Board's Tourism Committee was willing to endorse a unique opportunity to hire a Chinese graduate student to assist next summer in the effort to attract visitors from overseas — including China.

Kathy Casstevens, chairwoman of the La Salle County Tourism Coalition and marketing director at Starved Rock Lodge, said Wenjing "Jane" Gao is availability for the position.

Gao is a graduate student at Purdue University seeking a master's degree in hospitality and tourism management. She recently visited La Salle County with other students in the program.

Casstevens said Gao's job could be tailored to meet county needs, and that there were a number of possibilities for her duties. They might include translating current county tourism publications into Chinese and Japanese or producing new materials.

But chiefly, Casstevens said, "I want her to find out who do we market La Salle County to over there. I really see a return on our investment."

Costs to the county would include Gao's lodging, food and gasoline, Casstevens said.

Bob Navarro, president and CEO of the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it was possible there may be grant money to cover an intern's expenses, and suggested Gao's duties could include writing a marketing plan for international visitors to La Salle County.

Navarro said La Salle County was an appealing destination for foreign visitors.

"They want to experience our local culture, they want to go to the local wineries, they want to see where the food comes from. ... they want to see the local stuff."

Casstevens suggested it might be beneficial for the intern post to be made permanent.

"It could have far-reaching benefits," she said.




Foreign travel up in Illinois

According to the state's Bureau of Tourism:

• Travel Expenditures of international visitors reached $2.4 billion in 2008, an increase of 21.0 percent.
• International travel expenditures in Illinois generated 3,540 new jobs for a total of 24,030, up 17.percent from 2007.
• Direct payroll for international travel-generated jobs reached over $623 million, an increase of 19.6 percent.
• Tax revenue generated from international travelers (federal, state and local) reached $432.2 million, a 14.1-percent increase.
• Illinois welcomed 1,419,000 overseas visitors, an increase of 21 percent, and is the 6th most popular US state for overseas visitors.
• Chicago welcomed 1,368,000 overseas visitors, an increase of 19 percent and is the 9th most popular US city for overseas visitors.

2008 top inbound travelers to Illinois
1. United Kingdom
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. France
5. Brazil
6. Netherlands
7. India
8. Italy
9. China
10. South Korea