North Dakota Leads Nation in Tourism Growth - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Here's another first for North Dakota -- the state is leading the nation in tourism growth.

In what was a very down time for the rest of the country, the period 2008 to 2011 saw a 23 percent increase in visitor spending in North Dakota.  In 2012 alone, one million people flew here.  Over four and a half million visitors visited North Dakota's major attractions, with over 60 percent coming from out-of-state.  The oil industry is playing a part.

"It definitely has intrigued people.  I think they're definitely wanting to learn more about North Dakota and understand what it really is all about," says Sara Otte Coleman, Director of the North Dakota  Division of Tourism.

But it's not just about the oil.

For the period 2008 to 2011, it was leisure, not business, travel that grew the most -- 15 percent as compared to six percent.  Officials say this means tourism growth is independent of industry-driven business travel.  However, spending on attractions lags behind spending on things like food and hotels.  "We also are really seeing a need to grow more infrastructure, and whether that's venues or recreational providers or attractions, that's one area that our taxes, our tax receipts show we haven't grown as quickly as we have other areas," says Coleman.

Tourism is North Dakota's third-largest industry.