Tourism officials express concerns over tight travel budgets
- Tourism in South Dakota has experienced fluctuations, rising for seven of the past eight years before the pandemic.
- Hotel vacancy rates in Sioux Falls indicate a potential decrease in visitors, sparking concern among local officials.
- Concerns over financial constraints are leading to anticipations of reduced travel spending this tourism season.
In May 2025, approximately 100 business operators in South Dakota gathered for a meeting of the Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association to discuss the tourism outlook. The meeting, attended by local leaders including John Carley from Elk Creek Resort, revealed concerns about the financial impacts on tourism arising from a soft economy. Despite historical resilience during times of economic strain, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, current hotel data indicates potential weaknesses, especially in markets like Sioux Falls. Teri Schmidt, CEO of Experience Sioux Falls, noted that reduced travel budgets are leading potential visitors to reconsider their travel plans, implying a more frugal approach to vacations this year. Rather than a robust tourism rebound, experts predict visitors to South Dakota might spend less and stay shorter durations.