Budget-conscious tourists in Minnesota leaned more toward campgrounds and festivals this summer vs. last summer, according to the state's tourism promotion office.
In an end-of-summer survey taken by Explore Minnesota Tourism, about half of the more than 300 reporting venues noted that occupancy and revenue were down this summer. One out of four reported that business was up.
"Minnesota still hosted plenty of travelers this summer, but the way they are traveling has really changed," John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism, said. "People are traveling closer to home and looking for good values, often waiting until the last minute to book their trip. Typically, they are taking shorter trips and spending less while they travel. But people are still taking trips and finding ways to have fun on a budget."
Campgrounds fared especially well, the survey found, with close to half reporting increased revenue. Fishing, hiking, festivals, amateur sporting events and other low-cost activities were popular this summer, and state parks saw more visitors.
On the other hand, large resorts saw a downturn in conference business and bookings by corporate groups. Occupancy and revenue were down at the majority of hotels, especially in the Twin Cities area; hotels, in particular, are suffering from a decline in business travel and convention attendance.
PAUL WALSH
