Minnesota businesses hope new promotion initiative attracts foreign tourists
When Sen. Amy Klobuchar began supporting the Travel Promotion Act — a bill with a small surcharge on foreign travelers to help promote U.S. tourism — she said she didn’t see much benefit for Minnesota.
Building Boom: Event center growth continues in region 
New arenas opened in Fargo and Rapid City, SD, late last year, a new events center is planned in Aberdeen, SD, a hockey arena is under construction in Crookston, MN, and officials in Sioux Falls and Brookings, SD, are mulling major event center expansion plans.
RELATED CONTENTNew era of arenas
Modern buildings offering the latest in technology have popped up across North Dakota, South Dakota and western Minnesota throughout the last decade, replacing the events centers of previous generations. The remaining older facilities continue to make improvements and find ways to compete with their newer neighbors.
RELATED CONTENTSioux Falls officials ponder new facility
A task force is considering a number of options to upgrade Sioux Falls' arena and meeting space, including building a large new arena or expanding the existing convention center to keep pace with newer and larger facilities in other cities.
RELATED CONTENTUrban Plains Center opens in Fargo
The $25 million Urban Plains Center opened in October 2008 in Fargo and is the first phase of a planned $44 million tournament facility complex that could eventually include as many as five ice sheets (photo courtesy of Urban Plains Center)
RELATED CONTENTMurals may put Minnesota community on the map
Wadena, MN, is attempting to become more of a destination for passing motorists and bring more attention to the community by leading an effort to get listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in the process by painting the blank exterior walls of buildings in town into painted puzzle pieces showcasing 1,000 years of Minnesota history and creating the world’s largest picture puzzle.
RELATED CONTENTTourism industry avoids national downturn
South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota are all anticipating decent tourism seasons, bucking the steep downturn in the national tourism industry. In fact, the Northern Great Plains appears to be better positioned than many regions to take advantage of the new realities of recession-influenced travel plans.
RELATED CONTENTMinot's Norwegian sister city relationship boosts tourism
The nearly three-decade long sister city relationship between Minot, ND, and Skien, Norway, has resulted in increased tourism and broadened horizons for residents on both continents.
RELATED CONTENTCorporate hunting trips continue to draw visitors
Corporate hunting trips represent a small, but steady component of the region’s tourism industry, especially in South Dakota, which has been described as the “mother of pheasant hunting states.” Outdoors activities, including hunting, fishing, birding, mountain biking and hiking, are the third-most popular reason tourists say they visit North Dakota, according to survey data. Corporate hunting has developed its own niche among outdoors enthusiasts.
RELATED CONTENTCommunity profile: Detroit Lakes, MN
Natural resources have helped the Minnesota community of Detroit Lakes attract tourists looking for a place to enjoy water sports, hunting, fishing and any number of summertime festivals and attractions. Tourism is the community's top economic driver of the local economy.
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