Black Hills and Badlands brought in majority of state tourism dollars last year, per report

PIERRE, S.D. -- The Black Hills and Badlands region of South Dakota saw the most visitor spending in 2018, while the Southeastern region saw the largest amount of growth in spending from the year prior, according to a new report from the state Department of Tourism.

State Department of Tourism Secretary James Hagen said in a Thursday, April 11, news release said the report showed "strong numbers" that "prove once again that tourism is an incredibly important part of the South Dakota economy."

“The impact these visitors have on communities across our state is significant," Hagen said. "They come to enjoy the beauty of our open prairies, fish our pristine lakes and abundant rivers, hunt our bountiful fields and stand in awe at our memorials and monuments. These visitors support restaurants, marinas, hotels and attractions in communities large and small."

According to the report released Thursday, tourists spent nearly $1.6 billion on things like lodging, food, recreation and transportation in the Black Hills and Badlands region in 2018, up 2% from the previous year. Visitor spending in the region contributed to 39.2% of the state's total $4 billion in 2018 industry sales -- the largest contributor of four regions.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/1003569-Black-Hills-and-Badlands-brought-in-majority-of-state-tourism-dollars-last-year-per-report