Gov. Rhoden Advances Tourism in Rural Communities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2026

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden Advances Tourism in Rural Communities

Kicks Off National Travel and Tourism Week

PIERRE, S.D. - Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced that Travel South Dakota is reinstating the popular Tourism Advertising Promotion (TAP) Grant Fund, which is available to tourism-related businesses and destination marketing organizations to help advance tourism in rural communities.

"South Dakota remains the very best place to visit - and to live!" said Governor Larry Rhoden. "Our great places bring visitors here, and the great faces of South Dakota's people keep them coming back. These grants will help our communities tell their stories, attract visitors, and grow their local economies."

The TAP Grant Fund was first established in 2023 by the Noem-Rhoden Administration. After a pause to focus on the Destination Development program, Governor Larry Rhoden and Travel South Dakota are awarding $200,000 to 40 different projects statewide. The grants will invest directly into rural communities across South Dakota, encouraging visitors to stay in the state longer and spend more dollars to benefit our economies.

Governor Rhoden also kicked off National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), a week to recognize the power of travel to connect people, strengthen communities, and fuel America's economy. South Dakota's tourism industry continues to thrive, generating the following results:

• Last year, nearly 15 million visitors traveled to and within our state, spending over $5 billion;
• It generates $2.3 billion in household income, keeping our economy strong;
• The average South Dakota household saves more than $1,121 in taxes each year thanks to tourism; and
• Tourism supports more than 59,000 jobs across the state.

"People come here for our landscapes, our history, and our way of life. But they also come here because they feel something different. They feel the freedom, the authenticity, and the pride we have in our state," said Governor Larry Rhoden. "As we celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week, we also celebrate the people behind this industry: the workers, the business owners, and the leaders who make South Dakota such a welcoming place."

Governor Rhoden made this announcement at a press conference at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where he was joined by Travel South Dakota Secretary James Hagen, Mount Rushmore National Memorial Acting Chief of Interpretation & Education Blaine Kortemeyer, and representatives from the National Parks Service. You can find a photo from the announcement here.

Travel South Dakota and Governor Larry Rhoden are also seeking community applications for the Destination Development program, where two communities are selected to focus on enhancing a large project in their community.

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