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South Dakota tourism officials are concerned that 2025 may see a decline in tourism revenue.

While early bookings for some events are strong, concerns remain about spending and the "booking window" shortening.

Sioux Falls has seen a significant drop in hotel occupancy rates, and Canadian tourism is down.

PIEDMONT, S.D. – John Carley joined about 100 other business operators in early May for a meeting of the Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association to preview the 2025 tourism season.

The mood in the room, he said, was "a little muted" compared to recent years, when South Dakota set repeated records for visitors and tourism spending.

"I wouldn't say they were jumping up and down like, 'Yeah, we're going to have a great year,'" said Carley, manager of the Elk Creek

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