Yankton Press & Dakotan. April 30, 2024.
Editorial: Tourism Continues To Show Strength
Tourism once again demonstrated its value to South Dakota last year, and the local economy also benefited, which was no surprise.
A story in Tuesday’s Press & Dakotan reported that South Dakota’s southeast tourism district enjoyed a banner 2023, generating more revenue ($1.959 billion) than the much more promoted and higher profile Black Hills region ($1.915 billion).
While a majority of the southeast region’s revenue is generated in Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County, Yankton County produces its share. It saw $97.2 million in revenue last year, a robust 11% increase from 2022.
Those numbers tell a very familiar story — but the importance never gets old and should not be overlooked.
Tourism is certainly a sturdy component of the state’s economy. Last year’s total tourism revenue reached $4.96 billion, up nearly 5% from 2022.
More importantly, it was up 21% from 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic, as burdensome as it was, was revelatory in terms of understanding the draw of tourism. In an extraordinary climate that saw so many areas shutting down and people isolating, the Yankton district enjoyed record-setting years amid the pandemic as people embraced camping as a means of getting away (which was badly needed in the suffocating depths of the pandemic) while still exercising a measure of isolation and distancing.
The lesson to be remembered is that tourism continues to produce for this state in general and for specific areas. The industry has shown a level of resiliency that might be deemed spectacular.
It thrives when the overall economy is up and when it is down.
When fuel prices are low, it draws people from across the country; when fuel prices are high, it becomes an ideal vacation spot for local residents who don’t want to travel far.
It does good business in rainy years and in dry years.
And there is always room for more. Sioux Falls has emerged as a dynamic tourist destination thanks to such additions as the Sanford Premier Center and the Pentagon facility. Thus, it could be noted that the tourism components here today are the building blocks of what may come next. It suggests that investing in tourism can produce healthy returns down the line.
South Dakota’s glowing 2023 tourism numbers do tell a familiar tale, but it’s a great story that continues to grow and prosper. And it will do so as long as we keep that considerable potential in mind.
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