Tourism grows in Iowa

Wooded trails and back-to-nature activities in Sioux City in the Loess Hills provide one of Iowa's many great travel destinations. Photo from http://www.traveliowa.com.

In spite of the downturn in the national economy, Iowa tourism spending grew 2.2 percent in 2008, according to the U.S. Travel Association.  Tourism pumps about $6.4 billion a year into our communities, employing nearly 65,000 Iowans and generating more than $303 million in state taxes.  And it’s not all happening in the big cities; in fact, 92 of Iowa’s 99 counties increased their tourism-generated expenditures in 2008.

Check out http://www.traveliowa.com to learn about Iowa’s great travel destinations.