Tourism continues to show strength in South Dakota

Yankton Press & Dakotan

Tourism once again proved its value to South Dakota last year, and the local economy also benefited, which was no surprise.

A story in the April 30 Press & Dakotan reported that South Dakota’s southeastern tourism district had a banner year in 2023, generating more revenue ($1.959 billion) than the much more promoted and prominent Black Hills region ($1.915 billion).

While the majority of the southeast region’s revenue is generated in Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County, Yankton County produces its share. Last year saw revenue of $97.2 million, a robust 11% increase from 2022.

These numbers tell a very familiar story – but their importance never gets old and should not be overlooked.

Tourism is certainly a solid part of the state’s economy. Total tourism revenue last year was $4.96 billion, up almost 5% from 2022.

More importantly, it was 21% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic, while taxing, has been revealing when it comes to understanding the appeal of tourism. In an extraordinary climate with so many areas shutting down and people isolating, the Yankton District experienced record years during the pandemic as people embraced camping as a way to escape (much needed in the suffocating depths of the pandemic), while there a certain degree of isolation and distancing is still practiced.

The lesson to remember is that tourism continues to generate revenue for this state in general and for specific areas. The sector has shown a resilience that can be considered spectacular.

It thrives both when the overall economy is doing well and when it is in decline.

When fuel prices are low, it attracts people from all over the country; when fuel prices are high, it becomes an ideal vacation spot for locals who don’t want to travel far.

It does good business in rainy years and in dry years.

And there’s always room for more. Sioux Falls has become a dynamic tourist destination thanks to additions like the Sanford Premier Center and the Pentagon Complex. So it can be noted that the tourism components here today are the building blocks of what may come next. It suggests that investing in tourism can yield healthy returns over time.

South Dakota’s strong tourism numbers in 2023 tell a familiar story, but it’s a great story that continues to grow and thrive. And it will remain so as long as we keep that significant potential in mind.