For the second consecutive year, southeast South Dakota has led the state in visitor spending, accounting for 39.5% of statewide expenditures in 2023, narrowly surpassing the Black Hills region at 38.6%. Minnehaha County contributed the most at 29.3%, followed by Pennington County at 19.3%.
Teri Schmidt, CEO of Experience Sioux Falls, credits the region’s success to ongoing creative marketing and dynamic attractions. Jim Hagen, secretary of Travel South Dakota, is optimistic about continued growth, noting strong travel intentions despite some financial concerns among travelers.
The state’s Passport program and successful winter campaign have bolstered tourism, with Sioux Falls offering ever-changing attractions like new sculptures, concerts, and exhibits. A major youth soccer tournament, the President’s Cup, is expected to draw 6,000 visitors in June.
Visitor spending in southeast South Dakota increased by 5.2% last year, with four in ten tourism-supported jobs located in the region. Hagen highlights the close competition with western South Dakota, reflecting the vibrant growth of the southeast.