PIERRE S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) A newly released analysis of visitor spending in every county in South Dakota in 2023 shows a 21% increase from 2019, pre-pandemic, and a 4% increase from 2022 numbers. The Missouri Region led all others, compared to 2019 levels, with visitor spending growing by 24%, exceeding the prior year’s spending by $11.2 million. Hughes County experienced the most visitor spending activity, reaching $97 million for 25% of the Missouri Region’s total.
Minnehaha and Pennington counties make up the largest share of visitor spending in South Dakota. Davison County ranked eighth in visitor spending among the sixty-six counties of South Dakota.
Visitor spending in South Dakota reached a record high of $4.96 billion in 2023, a 4.9% increase over 2022. In 2023, the tourism industry supported 57,835 jobs in South Dakota, which generated $2.2 billion in income for those families employed in the tourism industry and resulted in $384 million in state and local tax revenue.
To see the full 2023 Tourism Economics report or the county analysis report go to SDVisit.com.
