CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois had a record number of visitors in 2011, with more than 93 million tourists visiting the state.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said Monday the state saw an 8.4 percent bump in tourism last year. Visitors generated $31.8 billion for the state economy. The more than 93 million visitors break the previous record of 91 million visitors in 2006. About 1.2 million tourists visited Illinois from abroad. That’s up 6 percent and at its highest level since 2008.