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Higher Gas Prices Don’t Depress Tourism Optimism

Inflation schminflation—rising gas prices won’t hurt South Dakota, as long as we remain our warm and charming selves:

Deb Schuetzle, operator of the Hitching Horse Inn in Pierre, credits South Dakota’s welcoming reputation as a big reason the state remains a popular tourist destination even during a time of soaring fuel prices.

“We really thought that maybe our gas prices may affect our tourism season, but thus far, it has not,” said Schuetzle, who runs the four-room bed and breakfast inn. South Dakota has a “warmth and charm people just love,” she said.

The Hitching Horse Inn has routinely been full this year and has had to turn some people away, Schuetzle said. “It has been really looking up … and I’m probably ahead of last year. So I’m very, very pleased with that” [Kylie Carlson, “High Gas Prices Not Expected to Slow Down South Dakota Tourism Industry in 2022,” South Dakota News Watch, 2022.05.20].

Hear that, Logan? Nicen up, or you’ll scare all those urban tourists away!

But hey, optimists: check your data. The national average gasoline price is currently 59% higher than one year ago. In July 2008, gasoline prices were up 38% from one year prior, and Americans put 3.6% fewer miles on their cars.

6 Comments

  1. It all depends on where you live and what you drive.

  2. grudznick

    This will even start to take a bite from those who are driven around but pay for the car, and those who are dependent upon the Rapid Ride too. You know the Rapid Ride is going to use this as an excuse to start gouging again.

  3. Electric cars have the oil companies reluctant to invest big money in leases and oil field development. This in turn will encourage consumers to look at electric and hybrid cars. Big oil is satisfied selling the oil it has now.

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