This summer, North Dakota has an opportunity to shine on the national stage. On July 4, as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the long-awaited Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will open in our North Dakota Badlands. This once-in-a-generation attraction will draw attention and visitors from across the country to experience the landscape that shaped one of America’s most influential leaders.
There’s something special about a North Dakota summer – the wide-open skies, scenic byways, welcoming communities and new experiences around every bend. This season, I encourage you to stay closer to home.
Imagine hitting the road without the stress of heavy traffic, long airport lines or crowded destinations. Instead, you’ll find peaceful highways, affordable adventures and the kind of safety and simplicity that let you truly unwind.
I love our 2023 campaign theme, Hello North Dakota, because it has multiple meanings.
It was developed from image and advertising effectiveness research in 2022 and builds on feedback showing North Dakota defies expectations, with its vast outdoors, exciting events and cities, friendly people and affordability.
Who’s ready for the summer travel season? North Dakota experiences across the state are as diverse as our terrain and offer entertainment and recreation for all ages, interests and budgets.
Research shows that 90% of Americans are planning to travel. Despite higher gas prices, North Dakota is well-positioned to attract visitors this spring, summer and fall.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans are ready to travel and looking for inspiration, as they are dreaming, planning and booking travel at increasingly higher rates. North Dakota Tourism’s website, www.NDtourism.com(link is external), experienced a 51% increase in website visitation year-over-year in 2020 from all 50 states, indicating travelers are looking at us as a safe, affordable and exciting destination to refresh, reconnect and refocus.
Our focus has shifted, as much of our marketing emphasis is on internal communications and helping community leaders across the state “Be Safe, Be Smart and Be Ready” for recovery. We are also reprogramming our marketing campaigns to align with the current environment – and the fastest path to once again invite and host visitors. Our sales team continues working with our customers, tour operators, travel media, influencers and representatives, strengthening relationships and improving awareness. And, yes, we will still celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week May 3-9!
