Good news for the local tourism industry.  A recent national survey that explored the desires and plans of interested travelers has both Minnesota and the Northland ranking high on the list for their destinations.

The survey asked questions of people who are "ready and willing to engage in leisure travel in the next six months".  The sample discovered that a majority of those travelers
"plan to take at least one Minnesota overnight trip".

Here are some key findings:

  • Minnesota was a key destination for 48 % of surveyed non-Minnesotans
  • Minnesota was a key destination for 82% of surveyed people who live in the state of Minnesota
  • Most of the survey results showed that plans "to spend time in the NE Region"; that part of the state encompassed the Northland (i.e. Duluth, the Iron Range, and the North Shore).  49% of respondents listed Northeastern Minnesota as their destination.
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul actually came in second to the Northland as the geographic area where people "plan to spend time".  The Metro Area was mentioned 38% of the time by the respondents.
  • Visitors will probably need to stay at a hotel.  73% of those traveling to Minnesota "plan to take at least one overnight trip".
  • Cold weather is a factor.  Of those people who said that they were not planning a trip to Minnesota this winter, the temperature was the most-listed reason why
  • Travelers expect "pre-pandemic levels of customer service, product quality, and pricing"
  • At the same time, those same travelers "expect COVID-19 safety protocols to be in place".
  • More than half of the respondents "expect masks to be worn"

The survey itself was conducted by Explore Minnesota between October 6 and October 11, 2021.  It was distributed to 38,000 people.  861 responded for the sample size. Of those who responded to the survey, 58% were female, 39% were male, and 3% "prefer(ed) not to say".

Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth
Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth
loading...

8 Foods You Should Know Living In The Northland

7 Terrific Beers Brewed In The Northland

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

LOOK: Here are the 10 US golf destinations with the most courses per capita

Discover where you can find the best access in the country for your pick of courses, the unique terrain that lends itself to world-class golf, and what makes select clubs noteworthy.

More From MIX 108