SD tourism looks good despite high gas prices

Talk about it

PIERRE (AP) — Officials in western South Dakota’s tourism industry expect visitors will continue to flock to the area this year, despite rising gas prices.

Nort Johnson, president of the Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes Association, says he thinks the tourism industry will have a profitable season.

Johnson said that he doubts people will cancel their vacations because the higher price of gas will only add $50 to the cost of a 1,000-mile trip.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial officials say they’ve seen a 27 percent increase in visitors in the first few months of the year, compared to the same period last year.

Amy Bracewell, historian at Mount Rushmore, says high gas prices in previous years haven’t affected visitation at the mountain carving in the Black Hills.

Tags: gas prices, news, updates, state, tourism