North Dakota’s tourism economy lost ground in 2025, though a new state report shows the decline was relatively modest and early indicators for 2026 are improving.
The North Dakota Department of Commerce released new Tourism Economics research Thursday showing the state welcomed 25.6 million visitors in 2025, down 2.6% from the year before.
Visitor spending also fell, but at a slower rate. Travelers spent about $3.4 billion in North Dakota last year, down 1.2% from 2024. The report says visitors still spent an average of $9.2 million per day in the state.
The clearest drag came from Canadian travel. Tourism Economics says Canadian visits to North Dakota fell from 422,000 in 2024 to 321,000 in 2025, a drop of nearly 24%. Canadian visitor spending fell from $80 million to $60 million.
The report also found overnight travel softened more than day trips. Overnight visits fell 4.3%, while day trips fell 1.8%. Per-visitor spending rose slightly to $132, helping limit the overall decline in spending.
Food and beverage spending held nearly flat at $979 million, while recreation spending grew to $544 million. Transportation spending saw the steepest decline, falling more than 6%.
Even with the dip, tourism remained a major piece of North Dakota’s economy. The report says visitor activity supported nearly 39,900 jobs, generated $304 million in state and local tax revenue and created $5.6 billion in total economic impact.
Commerce says early 2026 indicators are more encouraging. Canadian border entries increased in April for the first time in 15 months. Theodore Roosevelt National Park visitation was up more than 27% through April, and short-term rental bookings were nearly 19% higher than a year ago.
The rebound could also get help from western North Dakota, where the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park have drawn national travel attention for 2026. The park’s scenic loop has fully reopened, and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is scheduled to open in Medora on July 4.
County level tourism numbers are expected in the coming weeks.
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