Visitors to South Dakota last year spent more than three point nine billion dollars.
Tourism Department Secretary Jim Hagen says it’s a critical part of the state’s economy……

It was an increase of one-point two percent from 2016.

Hagen says visitor numbers also grew a bit……

Hagen says tourism has seen fairly steady growth despite a number of issues over the past few years…..

The numbers were released at the state tourism convention that wrapped up Thursday night in Pierre.