Minnesotans stuck closer to home this summer. That’s according to the results of a just-released survey from Explore Minnesota. Nearly half of the respondents in the state’s tourism industry say that a larger than normal share of their guests were Minnesota residents. Explore Minnesota Tourism Director John Edman says while it was good to see Minnesotans vacationing here, it’s also beneficial to bring money into the state from other regions:
“You bring in the non-residents because they stay longer, they spend more money and put dollars into the economy. But Minnesota is no different than any other state, people just aren’t as willing to venture out as far.”
The survey results confirmed that resorts and campgrounds performed better than hotels and motels. Compared to last summer, 61 percent of respondents said revenue was down, while 29 percent said revenue was up this summer.