updated January 24, 2022
 

COVID-19 RESEARCH UPDATES (posted 1/24/2022)

State Departments Partner to Recruit Tourism Workers (linked 5/10/2021)

The South Dakota Department of Tourism continues to take a proactive approach to protect the health and safety of our citizens, visitors and businesses. We are working with Governor Kristi Noem’s office, the South Dakota Department of Health, the U.S. Travel Association, and other state and federal agencies to provide up-to-date information to South Dakota’s tourism industry partners about COVID-19.

Industry members, we encourage you to contact Jacey Ellsworth or Calvin Bloemendaal to share your adjusted business hours, cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19. 

In addition, we have gathered resources that will be helpful to you in monitoring the situation and assessing what it might mean for your business or community.

The following resources can be used for the most up-to-date information:

• State of South Dakota - COVID.sd.gov
  • FREE At-Home and Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing (12/16/2020)
  • Additional Small Business and Healthcare Grants (12/14/2020) (deadline: 12/20/2020)
  • Small Business and Healthcare Provider Relief Program (10/9/2020) (deadline: 10/23/2020 extended to 10/30/2020)
  • SDUpSkill.com - programs for dislocated workers (7/31/2020)
  • Governor Noem's 'Back to Normal' Plan (PDF) (4/28/2020)
• South Dakota Department of Health
  • 605strong.com - a website offering COVID-19 resources and support
  • COVID-19 Guidance for Food and Beverage Establishments in South Dakota (PDF)
• South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
  • Unemployment and Reemployment Resources
• South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development
   
• Health, cleaning/sanitizing and reopening resources for South Dakota tourism businesses
   
• COVID-19 Travel Restrictions on Tribal Lands in South Dakota (PDF) (3/31/2021)
   
• TravelSouthDakota.com 
  • Great Places Are Waiting - 2020 Marketing Plan, Phase 2 (PDF) (5/22/2020)
     
• Funding Resources (CARES Act and SBA)
   
• Unemployment/Reemployment Resources​​​​
  • Division of Reemployment Assistance (Department of Labor & Regulation)
  • Unemployment Assistance fact sheet (PDF) (U.S. Travel Association)
     
• U.S. Travel Association
  • Top Highlights, Coronavirus Relief (PDF) (12/22/2020)
  • Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of All Travelers (link to webpage added 12/10/2020)
  • Travel in the New Normal - Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of All Travelers (PDF) (updated 11/18/2020, posted 11/20/2020)
  • Travel Confidently Summer Social Guide (PDF) (7/1/2020)
  • Travel Confidently Toolkit (6/26/2020)
  • The Great Travel Depression (PDF) (6/19/2020)
  • Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of All Travelers (PDF)
  • Economic Relief for Airports and Tourism (PDF)
  • CARES Act Relief Resources FAQ (PDF)
  • Navigating the CARES Act for DMOs (4/9/2020 webinar)
  • Navigating the CARES Act for DMOs (webinar deck) (PDF)
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Workforce Protection and Recovery Policies (PDF)
     
• Meetings Mean Business
  • Coronavirus Resources (12/10/2020)
  • Reopening Tracker - Gathering Limits by State (12/10/2020)
  • Meet Safe (12/10/2020)
     
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Considerations for Events and Gatherings (6/17/2020)
  • CDC COVID-19 Situation Report
  • Coronavirus and Travel in the United States
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country
  • Prepare your Small Business and Employees for the Effects of COVID-19
  • Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
  • Resources for Parks and Recreational Facilities
  • Schools, Workplaces & Community Locations
     
• Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 case tracker
   

GUIDANCE FROM GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM

On April 28, 2020, Governor Kristi Noem announced South Dakota's 'Back to Normal' Plan. We encourage businesses to follow this plan as they reopen.
 

COMMUNICATING WITH TRAVELERS

• Communicate your health and hygiene protocols and policies to visitors before they arrive. Be sure to include your current hours of operation on your website and/or Facebook page.
• Direct visitors to the resources listed above and encourage them to make their own travel decisions.
• Direct potential visitors to the Department of Tourism’s homepage for travel alerts, especially regarding businesses operating with altered hours or opening dates due to COVID-19.
• Remind visitors that 1) South Dakota is open for business and 2) the importance of taking proactive measures to keep themselves and others healthy while traveling, including washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub.
• CDC - Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
   

HOW TO HELP

Local businesses are a wonderful and essential part of South Dakota’s Great Faces, Great Places. Please consider supporting these businesses with online shopping, takeout/delivery options, and gift card purchases.
 

CONTACT US

Our team at the Department of Tourism is working diligently on this effort and is at the ready if you need to reach out to us.

Marketing and Co-Operative Marketing Program Questions:
[email protected]

Industry and Business-Related Questions:
[email protected]

Editing Business and Event Listings on TravelSouthDakota.com:
[email protected]

Media Inquiries and Interview Talking Point Questions:
[email protected]

International Information and Trade Shows:
[email protected]

As always, Secretary Jim Hagen and Deputy Secretary Wanda Goodman are available as well:
[email protected]
[email protected]