Obama Presidency's Chicago Impact

Obama Presidency's Chicago Impact

IMMEDIATE IMPACT

Tourism: The Land of Lincoln will enjoy another "presidential halo effect" on its tourism industry, observers say. The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau predicts increased interest in South Side areas tied to Obama and in Springfield, where he announced his candidacy. European tourist agencies are already making inquiries, said Mark Theis, executive vice president of the bureau. Still, the tourism bump may be smaller than it was for other recent presidents, said hospitality expert Bjorn Hanson of New York University's Tisch Center. "When President Bush Sr. went to Maine it had a significant boost to tourism because of scenes of him in his boat, fishing," he said. "I don't foresee too much of Barack Obama water-skiing behind a boat on the lake."

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot