South Dakota’s tourism industry set two records last year

PIERRE Visitor spending and total visitation each set all-time records in South Dakota in 2023.

Tourism officials had their eyes on success while anxiously awaiting final numbers coming off recent record-setting years. According to the annual study conducted by Tourism Economics, visitors to South Dakota spent $4.96 billion, an increase of 4.9% over 2022. This surpasses all previous records, which continues to prove the South Dakota tourism industrys tenacity and resiliency.

South Dakota welcomed 14.7 million visitors, reporting an increase of 2.3% over 2022, also an all-time record.

Visitors are discovering South Dakotas great assets: our people, our places, and our freedom. The word is out, and that is why we continue to see record increases in our tourism industry, said Gov. Kristi Noem. Year after year, this industry supports South Dakotas economy and essential services in our communities. Together, South Dakota citizens are building the strongest economy in America.

The tourism industry remains essential to South Dakotas economy, providing an indispensable source of job creation and household income to thousands. In South Dakota, 57,835 jobs were supported by the tourism industry, which generated $2.2 billion of income for those families.

Tourism in South Dakota is a job-creating, revenue-generating machine that plays a vital role in supporting the states economy year after year, said James Hagen, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. To see this industry continue to grow and set records shows the dedication to service, state, and community. I couldnt be prouder of every individual in this industry.

In 2023, tourism generated $384 million in state and local tax revenue. Without tourism in South Dakota, each household would pay an additional $1,040 in taxes each year.

What we are doing is working, Hagen said. Conservatively, research tells us that for every $1 we put into tourism marketing, we see $61 in visitor spending and $5 in tax revenue. South Dakotans feel the impact daily with job creation, reduced tax burden, and increased state and local tax revenue.

To view the full 2023 Tourism Economics report,go toSDVisit.com.