ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Missouri tourism officials expect another year of growth, and the state is looking to its neighbors to bring in those tourism dollars this spring and summer.
Missouri Tourism Director Ward Franz says new and improved attractions are helping to build the state's tourism economy.
Franz says big attractions like the Gateway Arch expansion and the Wonders of Wildlife museum and aquarium in Springfield definitely have a trickle down effect.
"Springfield, they had 1.8 million visitors to Wonders of Wildlife. It received all these national awards. But you're seeing the hotels filling up, the restaurants having their numbers increase and that's just good for the whole area," Franz says.
Franz says international travel to the U.S. is down slightly, but he expects Missouri to make up for that with visitors from neighboring states.
He tells KMOX the state is trying a regional approach in some cases, for example, working with Arkansas to promote the Ozarks.
Last year, the state saw roughly 3 percent growth. Franz predicts roughly 3 percent growth in tourism in 2019.
He says last year, Missouri had 42 million visitors with an estimated economic impact of $17.2 billion.