Pandemic compelling local travel agencies to look for an alternative in marketing

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

In the past two years, many things have changed, starting right from gatherings to the way how businesses are conducted on an everyday basis which includes marketing.

Tourism as a sector was compelled to roll with the punches. The South Dakota Department of Tourism started marketing to two separate groups of people: firstly with the ones who are ready to travel and secondly with those who aren’t.

“What we said to those those folks was when the time is right for you and you want to start traveling, great places are waiting,” said Jim Hagen, the South Dakota Secretary of Tourism. “There was a segment of the American population who said we’re going to travel today. We’re ready to travel and so our message to them was go to great places. We’re ready to welcome you. We’re ready to keep you safe.”

That message has made its way to Rapid City where travel businesses have no other choice but to use other strategies that are based more on social media like the user generated content along with photos and videos of the wintery Black Hills outdoors.

“People that have visited the area that don’t live here, sharing their experience seems to have a huge impact,” said Stacie Granum, the Interim President and CEO of Visit Rapid City.

« Back to Page

• South Dakota – 10 romantic attractions for every love bird to explore this year

• Travel South Dakota’s Native American Tourism campaign promotes Tribal tourism

• South Dakota Witnesses a Record Number of Visitors in 2021

• In South Dakota, tourism experienced a record-breaking year

• Officers elected for Governor’s tourism advisory board South Dakota