Nov. 4--DECATUR -- Tourism is providing a rare bright spot in an otherwise down Decatur-area economy, city leaders said during a news conference Tuesday at the Children's Museum of Illinois.

Tourism spending for 2008 in Macon County exceeded $100 million for the first time, according to data in the Economic Impact of Travel on Illinois Counties report. A total of $107.48 million was spent in Macon County, placing it at No. 20 in the state.

The 8.2 percent increase in tourism spending was the third highest in Illinois, behind Tazewell and Champaign counties.

"It's nice to know our investment in tourism is paying off," City Manager Ryan McCrady said. "If not for tourism, things would be even worse than they are."

Tourism not only accounted for an increase in dollars spent but also helped add 200 jobs to the area, said Denene Wilmeth, Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. Other job sectors, especially manufacturing, have experienced significant drops over the past year.

Diversifying the local economy can help it survive the downturn, said Randy Prince, Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce president.

"We need a good mix," Prince said. "We've been heavily relying on manufacturing jobs for years."

Showing Decatur is a desirable place to live and visit can help lead to jobs in other sectors, Prince said.

Tourism has improved, in part, as local ties to Abraham Lincoln have been highlighted during the bicentennial celebration of his birthday, McCrady said. New wayside exhibits give visitors a chance to explore Lincoln's time in the area, McCrady said.

He expects Lincoln-related attractions will continue to generate tourism even after the bicentennial ends.

Other Decatur attractions include the Children's Museum, Macon County History Museum, Scovill Zoo, Lake Decatur, Nelson Park, Millikin University and golf courses.

Attendance, for example, at the Children's Museum has increased 10 percent to 15 percent at a time when visits to other children's museums has gone down 20 percent on average, said Melinda Shaw, the museum's executive director.

Programs such as the recent Pumpkin Palooza that attracted about 400 people have helped the museum keep visitors coming through its doors as it prepares to turn 20 years old in 2010, Shaw said.

The key is finding ways to attract people to stay overnight, Wilmeth said.

"Tourism is alive and well," Wilmeth said.

Construction on the Rockies Express Pipeline provided about 15,000 room nights in hotels, Wilmeth said.

This year, the Farm Progress Show had a total economic impact of $10 million, accounting for nearly 10,000 room nights and 200,000 visitors, Wilmeth said.

Effingham reported room nights related to the farm show for the first time. Other cities included Decatur/Forsyth, Springfield, Champaign/Urbana, Bloomington/Normal, Tuscola, Clinton, Lincoln, Taylorville, Leroy, Shelbyville/Findlay, Arcola, Monticello and Pana.

Wilmeth said tourism is an area effort, and Decatur needs attractions in other parts of Central Illinois, such as Springfield and Amish country, to get visitors to stay overnight and spend a few days.

Travelers used to flock to large cities, but smaller communities are becoming more popular as families tighten their vacation budgets, Wilmeth said.

"Larger cities get to be more expensive," Wilmeth said. "That's an advantage for smaller communities."

clusvardi@herald-review.com 421-7972

-----

To see more of Herald & Review, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald-review.com

Copyright (c) 2009, Herald and Review, Decatur, Ill.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.