PIERRE, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem proposed about thirty-five million dollars in extra spending for the Department of Tourism. That funding is making its way thorough the legislative budgeting process.

Secretary Jim Hagen says they plan to spend those dollars over several years.

Hagen says they have a number of initiatives in their plan.

Hagen says they also want to work with more tourism partners.

State tourism bounced back last year from the pandemic impacts by posting record visitor spending of over four point four billion dollars.