Antagonizing Canada has hurt tourism revenue in Minnesota and elsewhere. Donald Trump’s focus on picking fights rather than solving policy problems has dampened Americans’ travel plans as well:
…in spite of Trump’s boastful promises, the economy is a dud. Financial services behemoth Morningside headlined an article last week that says it all: “47% of Americans Scale Back Summer Travel as Grocery and Gas Costs Eat Into Vacation Budgets.” The piece cited a study that concluded “many Americans are spending vacation money on everyday essentials and paying off debt.” I don’t think Trump had this in mind when he promised that “we’re going to win so much, you may even get tired of winning.”
The study’s findings, also cited in yahoo!finance, said of respondents that “nearly half (47%) say they’ve postponed, shortened, downgraded, or entirely canceled a summer trip because of cost. Among those affected, gas prices were cited most often (46%), along with groceries and everyday bills (29%), hotel or vacation rental (24%), and food costs while traveling (18%).”
Weak national park visitation numbers reflect the study’s conclusions and I have no doubt we’ll see some revenue downturns in South Dakota’s visitor-oriented communities and businesses as the summer progresses [John Tsitrian, “Trump’s Economy = Not So Hot Tourist Season, Locally and Nationally,” South Dakota Standard, 2027.07.13].
The South Dakota Department of Tourism reports our state is still seeing more tourists so far this year and making more money from them than it was in 2025. In the first five months of this year, South Dakota saw 3.1% more vists, 6.1% more visitor spending, and 4.0% more tax revenues from those visitors than it did in the same period in 2025. But remember, 2025 was a relatively anemic year, with only a 0.38% increase in visitors and a 1.1% increase in visitor spending, which SD Tourism had to spin as steadiness, stability, and consistency but was weaker growth than any of the four years Joe Biden was President.
Worth noting: South Dakota’s 2025 visitor growth was sandbagged by a 6.8% decrease in international visitors. Of course, those are small sandbags: international visitors contributed only 1.48% of South Dakota’s tourist dollars in 2024 and 1.35% in 2025.
The Division of Parks and Recreation reported to the Game Fish and Parks Commission this month that the first half of 2026 brought 2% fewer campers and 2% less revenue through our parks. So far this year, visitors have bought 1.8% more annual park licenses but 18.2% fewer daily passes. Park pass sales were buoyed by a 6.5 increase in 7-day passes for Custer State Park through June.
Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen said in May that the Trump-war premium we’re paying for gasoline could help South Dakota tourism. SD Tourism says it’s seeing visitors taking shorter trips, but those shorter trips aren’t adding up yet to more state park camping, visits, or revenue.
There’s a lot to see in South Dakota and I’ve seen it all. Just day trips if people will make them would help. Relying on tourism isn’t the best of all worlds for the state.
Data Centers anyone? Nuclear power plants? Radioactive dumps? All kinds of things to think about.
Radioactive dumps have been tried, and while there is almost no dollar cost to them and reaping the money is good, people are afeared outside of rationality. Power plants and data centers with the recycled antifreeze are better options, and they should go inside Sioux Falls.
Day trips are fine, mostly for finding a good burger and viewing the scenery. Joy rides after a hearty breakfast are best.
As far back as 2015 a company representative told WNAX radio that the state’s attractions, road conditions, nightlife options, scenic byways, tourist attractions, cost of traveling, hotel affordability, gas prices and camping all suck.
Today, a state that calls itself conservative depends on federal Social Security benefits to pay the property taxes that currently bankroll South Dakota’s red state failure while video lootery drives poor residents even deeper into despair.
And, as the Trump Organization touts deregulation and tax cuts as keys to making life affordable critics and recent economic data suggest that because of the war on Iran costs for essentials like housing, gas, and groceries remain high. Just recently while apparently thumbing their noses at Herr Trump, Toby Doeden mentioned affordability at least three times during the Earth haters’ gubernatorial debate and in a Dakota Town Hall discussion State Senator Casey Crabtree did, too. Crabtree cited the dysfunction in his own party as as part of his decision to end a run for congress.
I spend 2 weeks in Arizona each winter, for the past few years. Most of the time is spent in Lake Havasu. It was very noticeable from day one this year that visitor numbers were down considerably. I just did not see a lot of Canadian licensed vehicles like I remember seeing in past years.
I also did not see a lot of Canadians traveling south in the fall or returning north in the spring.
Well Gudz had a day trip to the site where the explorer two landed. Anybody else been there. it was spectacular. I also went to where it was launched.. South Dakota history.
grudznick is unsure where any historic balloons landed, but all know the best historic launching pad is on the very edge of the District Numbered 30, the insanest district of most of them these days.
I can’t agree with Mark Anderson on his ideas for economic development, which I assume were made with tongue in cheek.
By the way, the new scheme in the data center business is for power companies to control them so they can use eminent domain to build power plants next to them. It just gets worse and worse with the data center/utility industry.