Tourists flocked to Salem this year despite rain and the ongoing government shutdown. On Halloween Day alone, the city welcomed 96,000 visitors, a 7.2 percent increase from last year, according to the city’s marketing organization Destination Salem.

Over the full month of October, Salem saw 1.1 million unique visitors, matching last year’s record-setting total. Total visits to Salem, measured by a 24-hour period spent in the city, reached 1.4 million, a 6.3 percent decrease from last year.

The city was forced to close several government-run buildings due to the shutdown, but local organizations stepped up to keep many key events and restroom facilities open. Nine rainy days threatened to slow crowds, but many visitors came prepared.

“Salem’s ability to sustain more than one million v

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