High 10 numbers that inform the story of journey in Sioux Falls

May 21, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Experience Sioux Falls.

Travel is doing greater than filling lodge rooms in Sioux Falls. It’s supporting jobs, driving tax income, attracting occasions and serving to form how guests — and more and more residents — expertise the town.

New information commissioned by Experience Sioux Falls from an professional trade agency reveals that the customer trade generated an estimated $1.2 billion in customer spending in Sioux Falls in 2025 as the town continued constructing momentum as a regional vacation spot.

The numbers assist clarify why tourism more and more issues to Sioux Falls companies far past hospitality alone.

“Travel touches almost every part of our economy,” stated Teri Schmidt, CEO of Experience Sioux Falls. “When visitors come here, they’re staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, shopping, attending events, using transportation and supporting attractions throughout the community.”

Here’s a take a look at 10 numbers serving to inform the story of journey in Sioux Falls.

1. $1.2 billion in customer spending

According to a report from Tourism Economics utilizing a mixture of traveler information factors, customer spending in Sioux Falls reached an estimated $1.2 billion in 2025.

That spending reaches nicely past resorts and tourism-specific companies. Visitors help retail, leisure, eating places, transportation suppliers and native points of interest throughout the town.

“When people think tourism, they often think hotels first,” Schmidt stated. “But the impact spreads throughout the community and supports businesses of all kinds. It really demonstrates how interconnected the visitor economy is.”

The determine additionally displays Sioux Falls’ rising position as each a vacation spot and regional hub for sports activities, conferences, live shows and leisure journey.

2. 3.4 million guests

Sioux Falls welcomed an estimated 3.4 million guests in 2025.

For a metro space of roughly 300,000 residents, that represents a major stage of out of doors exercise flowing via the native financial system.

“The city increasingly benefits from its location as a regional drive-market destination,” Schmidt stated, “especially as travelers look for shorter, more affordable trips.”

3. 40 % of statewide customer spending

The southeast South Dakota area accounted for 40 % of all customer spending statewide final yr, totaling greater than $2 billion.

That means Sioux Falls and the encompassing space proceed to function a serious financial engine for South Dakota tourism, with 2025 marking the fourth consecutive yr the southeast area has led the state in customer spending.

The space advantages from a mixture of enterprise journey, sports activities tournaments, medical visits, live shows, conventions and leisure tourism that creates year-round exercise as a substitute of relying solely on seasonal peaks.

4. $3.3 million spent every single day

Visitors spent a mean of $3.3 million every single day in Sioux Falls in 2025.

That day by day exercise helps eating places, retailers, points of interest, resorts and transportation suppliers throughout the town.

“When you break it down daily, it really opens your eyes to how much visitors contribute to the local economy on an ongoing basis,” Schmidt stated.

It additionally highlights how tourism has developed right into a year-round financial driver moderately than one thing tied solely to summer season journey.

5. 10,276 jobs supported

The customer financial system supported 10,276 jobs in Sioux Falls in 2025 — equal to about one in 20 jobs citywide.

The report notes that these workers may fill the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center to capability.

Food and beverage companies accounted for the most important share, with almost 2,800 jobs tied to customer exercise. Recreation, lodging and retail additionally represented main employment sectors.

6. $126 million in state and native taxes

Visitor exercise generated $126 million in state and native tax income in 2025.

Sales taxes represented the most important class, although tourism additionally contributed to lodging, property and excise tax collections.

Those revenues assist help native and state authorities providers like infrastructure and facilities with out relying solely on residents and native companies.

7. $1,462 saved per family

Without tourism-generated tax income, every Sioux Falls family would wish to pay a further estimated $1,462 yearly to interchange these {dollars}, in line with the report.

The determine helps quantify tourism’s broader financial worth for residents who could circuitously work within the trade.

“That’s one of the most important numbers in the report,” Schmidt stated. “It shows tourism isn’t separate from the community — it benefits everyone who lives here.”

8. $311 million spent in retail

Retail represented the most important customer spending class in Sioux Falls at $311 million, accounting for 26 % of all customer spending.

That contains buying all through Sioux Falls, from downtown boutiques and specialty retailers to bigger industrial districts.

Transportation spending adopted intently behind at $290 million, whereas meals and beverage spending totaled $249 million.

9. Recreation spending grew 5.6 %

Among all spending classes, recreation noticed the strongest progress in 2025, growing 5.6 % yr over yr.

The improve displays rising curiosity in experiences tied to sports activities, leisure, arts and out of doors recreation.

Free points of interest resembling Levitt on the Falls, SculptureWalk, Falls Park and the success of youth sports activities tournaments proceed serving to Sioux Falls compete as a regional vacation spot.

“People are increasingly traveling for experiences, and we blend experience with affordability in a powerful way,” Schmidt stated. “That’s an area where Sioux Falls continues to outshine other destinations.”

10. $1.8 billion in whole financial affect

Visitor spending in the end generated a complete financial affect of $1.8 billion throughout the Sioux Falls financial system in 2025, in line with the report.

That whole goes past direct customer purchases and displays how tourism {dollars} proceed circulating via the native financial system. The report estimates that the preliminary $1.2 billion in customer spending generated a further $613 million via provide chain exercise and worker spending.

In addition to direct impacts at resorts, eating places and points of interest, tourism helps industries starting from finance and actual property to building, communications and enterprise providers.

“When visitors have a great experience here, they come back and they tell other people,” Schmidt added. “That helps support businesses across Sioux Falls and ensures they’re able to sustain so locals can enjoy them too.”

Take a better take a look at the customer trade’s affect beneath:

Read the full research report from Tourism Economics.

Read more updates from Experience Sioux Falls.