National Tourism Week!
This nationwide week (May 1-8) of events serves to champion the power of our industry. A wide cross section of travel and tourism professionals work throughout the week to promote the impactful contributions their travel markets and organizations make to the U.S. economy.
So, what do you think of when you hear the word tourism? Do you think of hotels, resorts, and amusement parks? Do you think of your local gas station, motel, and grocery store? All of these things are impacted by tourism.
Individuals from outside our region, which travel to our region and spend money, are considered tourists. That includes the individual who drives through our community and fills up with gas or picks up a sandwich. They are considered a tourist by spending money in our community which boosts the economic impact.
Minnesota’s Economic Impact:
- Travelers in Minnesota spend more than $37 million a day.
- Sales at leisure and hospitality businesses grew 37% from 2004 to 2014, from $8.7 billion to $13 billion, including a 5% annual growth in 2014
- Travel & tourism creates jobs and generates sales in every county of Minnesota.
- Travel & tourism has a positive economic impact, supporting a wide variety of main street businesses across the state.
- Traveler spending indirectly supports jobs in many other industries, as well, from financial services to printing.
Economic Impact by County:
| Counties | Gross sales | Sales Tax | Private Sector Employment |
| Chippewa | $15,833,603 | $1,107,936 | 384 |
| Yellow Medicine | $13,077,134 | $523,746 | 203 |
| Swift | $8,939,780 | $641,835 | 221 |
| Lac qui Parle | $4,059,040 | $227,276 | 98 |
| Region Total | $41,909,557 | $2,500,793 | 906 |
The Leisure and Hospitality industry consists of Accommodations; Food Services and Drinking Places; and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation. Sources: Minnesota Department of Revenue; Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Western Minnesota Prairie Waters Regional Tourism’s purpose is to promote and market the area as a great place to visit, work and a live. We are able to do this with the help of our current members of Swift, Yellow Medicine, Chippewa, and Lac qui Parle Counties, along with the cities of Granite Falls, Canby, Montevideo, Madison, Dawson, Appleton, Milan, and Clara City.
During National Travel and Tourism Week, take some time and think about this region and all it has to offer. For more information, visit Prairiewaters.com or call us at 866.866.5432. You can also learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week at the U.S. Travel Association’s website at Ustravel.org. Go to Exploreminnesota.com for more information about Minnesota tourism.
Be sure to check out all the exciting events happening within the Prairie Waters region this week! Calendar of Events
