For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, South Dakota tourism leaders are wary that 2025 might not be a great year for tourism.
There are some early signs pointing to a slowdown in tourist visits and revenues compared to recent years, South Dakota News Watch is reporting.
Tourism leaders say potential visitors are expressing economic concerns that could curtail the length of visits and reduce spending. Hotel occupancy in Sioux Falls was down substantially in March and April.
The blame for visitor hesitancy, according to tourism officials, is a combination of inflation and high costs for food and other goods, political uncertainty, and federal employee and program cuts. President Donald Trump’s talk of annexing Canada is also turning away some potential visitors from the north.
Tourism secretary James Hagen said South Dakota is well-positioned in a tight tourism market as a driveable, affordable destination.
An estimated 14.9 million visitors generated $5.1 billion in spending and almost $400 million in tax revenues in 2024. The tourism industry supports about 59,000 jobs and makes up 17 percent of overall state sales tax collections.
*Additionally, people who want to get vaccinated amid a national outbreak of measles can get a free shot at Siouxland District Health Department in Sioux City.
Health Department officials in a release said they are offering the vaccines every Tuesday, as part of a state of Iowa measles vaccine initiative.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications in certain populations and remains the most effective way to protect individuals and communities,” the release said.
The free vaccination clinics will be held for 90 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. on upcoming Tuesdays. Those interested are encouraged to call (712) 279-6119.
The measles vaccinations will be available to anyone, regardless of insurance status and where they live. The measles outbreak has now reached 31 states.
*In other news, a proposal to increase or expand other taxes to provide more property tax relief fell short in the Nebraska Legislature on Monday.
The measure needed a two-thirds majority, or 33 votes, to overcome a filibuster by opponents. It received only 30.
State Senator Tom Brandt said reaching the goal of sustainable property tax relief could be done by raising sales taxes on cigarettes, vaping, soda and energy drinks. He also wanted to extend taxing to 18 services, ranging from tattooing to chartered airplane flights.
Taxing those services drew opposition from state Senator George Dungan, who said that results “in a larger impact on everyday working people.”
Until last year, state payments to hold down local property tax increases merely decreased the size of the increase. Last year, with the state pumping more money into the system, many peoples’ property taxes went down slightly.
But with valuations continuing to increase, the state would need to keep spending more, to prevent property taxes from resuming their rise.
*An Iowa community health nonprofit has laid off 13 translators because of rising costs and funding cuts.
EveryStep provides services like hospice, home care, and nursing. But having an in-person translator for non-English speaking clients is no longer one of them.
CEO Tray Wade says the nonprofit will switch to translation phone lines, but will lose the cultural competency their staff provided.
Wade says the translators went above and beyond to help their clients understand an unfamiliar health care system.
