Energy and population are not the only areas booming in North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Commerce’s Tourism Department has increases in almost every area.
For the tourism department's second quarter, visitation at state and national parks are up nearly 25 percent, airport arrivals are up 21 percent, state tourism attractions are up 13 percent, travel near the Canadian border is up 13 percent, tax collections and arts entertainment are up 37 percent.
Summer is closely followed by fall and spring for the busiest tourism seasons.
"In the fall you've got hunting and you can still fish. It is a great time to hike, horseback ride or golf so that really helps make for strong fall numbers," State Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman said. "In the spring it's kind of the same thing. With fishing and more wild life refuges than any other state birding is a huge market for us and people come from all over the world to bird here in the spring. I think it's that really broad experience that we offer here that keeps our numbers pretty consistent."
As summer ends and school begins for many families the tourism department markets fall events.
"A lot of the attractions still have fall events that you can piggy-back on to other fall activities whether it's football or any other activities you travel for. We try to package it and make it seasonal,"Coleman said.
Coleman says she believes many of the tourists are from out of state. She says a comprehensive visitor profile study will be done this winter.
