South Dakota tourism officials are optimistic about a return of tourists this summer despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a news release, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said tourism officials are “seeing growing interest in our state nationwide.”
“We’re hearing from visitors in our established markets in record numbers, but we are also seeing growing interest in new regions of the country,” the popular governor added. “I’m looking forward to a very good tourism season in The Mount Rushmore State.”
For 2021, tourism officials are going with a theme of “Go Great Places,” which they hope encourages travelers to head out on road trips and explore South Dakota when it feels right for them. The department’s marketing plan includes “influencer” partnerships, public relations and advertising.
“Consumer confidence in traveling has been climbing consistently since January. With the vaccination rollout, consumers are feeling more comfortable and confident in travel,” James Hagen, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, said in a news release.
“In recent national surveys, respondents have consistently indicated they are interested in visiting rural destinations and small towns, metro areas, beach destinations, state and regional parks, national parks, and mountain destinations,” Hagen added. “Of those six, South Dakota specifically has four in spades. That bodes very well for future travel to our state.”