Lead and Wessington Springs will be the first participants in a new program designed to increase tourism in the state's rural communities, Travel South Dakota announced Sept. 16.

The Destination Development Program is a partnership with George Washington University's International Institute for Tourism Studies and Crosscurrent Collective to provide rural communities with "strategic planning assistance, access to subject-matter experts, professional development and marketing opportunities," according to a news release .

“Developing and supporting tourism offerings, especially in rural areas, is a key part of our strategic plan, and we are thrilled to get to work with these two communities,” said James Hagen, the state's tourism secretary. "Lead and Wessington Springs both impresse

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