(Des Moines, IA) — Initial data from the state tourism office indicates the number of travelers is down slightly from last year, but visitors are coming from a greater distance. Iowa Travel Office Communications manager, Jessica O’Riley, says the average distance traveled for a trip this year is just 233 miles compared to 140 miles last year. Air traffic numbers show more people traveling out of state. Passenger numbers at the Des Moines Airport are up 60 percent, while they jumped 50 percent at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids. O’Riley says they are seeing hotel occupancies higher this year.
