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Watch: Illinois governor discusses tourism and travel ahead of loosening COVID-19 restrictions

The governor of Illinois is in Springfield on Wednesday, May 12 giving an update to tourism, travel and exploration across Illinois.
Credit: AP
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The governor of Illinois is in Springfield on Wednesday, May 12 giving an update to tourism, travel and exploration across Illinois.  

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the "Time For Me To Drive" campaign which is aimed at promoting tourism in Illinois. 

Through a series of ad campaigns, state leaders are showcasing tourism across Illinois via car, as the pandemic has pushed people toward preferring vehicular travel over others.

“Without question, tourism is a key economic driver for Illinois and is essential to our economic recovery,” said Sylvia Garcia, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). “That’s why we are excited to roll out this new campaign just in time for summer, marking a critical step forward in bringing visitors back into our communities, supporting our hospitality businesses and helping build consumer confidence. We thank our tourism partners for their continued support as we work to revive the industry and reclaim Illinois’ place as a major international destination for business and leisure travel.”

This comes days after he announced a hopeful move toward the Bridge Phase into looser COVID-19 restrictions.

Illinois is set to move into the Bridge Phase on Friday, May 14. 

The Bridge Phase, which is a transitional phase between Phases 4 and 5, means higher capacity limits for restaurants, gyms, offices, festivals, and other public areas and events. In Phase 5 there are no capacity limits. 

The video below is from the governor's May 6 announcement:

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