TOPEKA (KSNT) - The latest tourism numbers show Kansas is more than just a flyover state. Kansas's Director of Tourism, Bridgette Jobe, told 27 News they conduct annual studies on the economic impact of tourism. She said 2019 was a great year for tourism, but 2023 was even better. "2019 was really that year when we had a really great travel year," Jobe said. "[In 2023] we exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 10% in both the number of visitors and in the amount of visitor spending." Topeka leaders to vote on homeless camp crackdown Jobe said larger cities like Kansas City and Wichita are the hotspots for tourists, but that rural tourism is increasing as well. She said visitors want to experience the opens spaces of the Great Plains. "I use the word authentic all the time because that is truly what we are," Jobe said. "We are real America. I think that's what people are looking for and how we try to market Kansas to visitors." For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.