A Superpower in our State and Region

BY JULIE RYGG

Energy, agriculture and tourism? In case you haven’t heard, one of North Dakota’s fastest-growing industries is our state’s third-largest and definitely a force for good, creating countless jobs and bringing in millions of dollars annually. While some might believe we live in obscurity up north, we at the Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau see the powerful, positive impacts of tourists visiting our state on a daily basis.

According to research compiled by North Dakota Tourism, the state hosted 24 million visitors in 2013, with $307 million in local and state taxes paid by visitors. This created a resident tax savings of $1,011 per household.

Where do these visitors come from? Grand Forks sees a majority of our leisure travelers arrive from Canada, specifically Manitoba. North Dakota Tourism projects out of the 1.7 million Canadian visitors to the state annually, 70.5 percent of those are from Manitoba.

Time after time, research done by the GGF CVB has illustrated Manitobans come to our community for shopping and to enjoy a weekend getaway. In one of our most recent surveys, compiled in 2015, 71 percent of the respondents said they spent between $250 and $1,000 per trip, while another 14 percent said they spent between $1,000 and $1,500 per trip.

We experience the highest volume of travel from Manitoba during holiday weekends and spring break. Every superpower has its Achilles heel and for us, that would be the weakened Canadian dollar. Unfortunately, it’s having a negative impact on many North Dakota cities of late. Our friends are still visiting but less often and for a shorter stay. This is where creative marketing techniques become even more important in helping entice and influence more travel to our cities, but that’s a topic for another day.

Another fact that might come as a surprise is that many visitors to North Dakota come not only from around the U.S. but around the globe. As a state, we excel when hosting conventions and athletic tournaments.This is where our “North Dakota Nice” shines, as we roll out the red (white and blue) carpet. The impact from these conventions and tournaments is tremendous for our economy. As an example, Grand Forks will host the 2016 Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in April, which is projected to have a direct spending impact of $1.8 million dollars. This includes hotels, food and beverage and transportation. Athletes, coaches and families will travel to North Dakota from 10 countries and stay for more than 10 days. Also, when their experience is a positive one, they become goodwill ambassadors for our community and spread the word back home about how simply grand we are.

Webster defines tourism as: The activity of traveling to a place for pleasure; and the business of providing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc. for people who travel. So it only makes sense the tourism industry in North Dakota encompasses numerous types of businesses including lodging, dining, transportation, event venues, retail, tourism organizations and many more. As an integral part of this industry, it’s the GGF CVB’s mission to promote all our exciting offerings, so those looking to visit a new area or return to a much-loved region will consider checking out the legendary state of North Dakota.

Julie Rygg Executive Director Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau Grand Forks, N.D. julie@visitgrandforks.com