North Dakota
New Mexico Joins, North Dakota, Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois and Others in Facing Successive Decline in US Tourism for Ten Consecutive Months in 2025: Everything You Need to Know – Travel And Tour World
Published on
November 10, 2025
In 2025, New Mexico joined North Dakota, Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, and others in facing a successive decline in US tourism for ten consecutive months due to seasonal trends, economic shifts, and changing tourist preferences. The year witnessed a noticeable drop in visitor numbers across these states, as factors like reduced event tourism and evolving travel patterns contributed to a slowdown in tourism. While traditionally, these states see a dip in visitors as the summer months give way to fall, the decline in 2025 reflects deeper shifts in the broader tourism landscape. States like New Mexico saw a drop from 1.6 million visitors in 2024 to 1.3 million in 2025, mirroring the challenges faced by North Dakota and Michigan. Despite these setbacks, these states remain popular destinations, with potential for growth as they adapt to changing travel trends.
Arkansas Faces a Modest Decline in Tourist Arrivals in 2025
Tourism in Arkansas has seen a small decline in 2025, with the total number of visitors dropping to 1.8K, down from 1.7K in 2024. The state’s tourism numbers fluctuated across the months, with notable decreases in February, where visitors dropped to 87 compared to 134 in the previous year. Similarly, September saw a drop to 93, down from 146 in 2024. However, the state did see a significant spike in March, with 262 visitors, compared to 163 in the same month of 2024. Despite this, the overall trend reflects a slight downturn, which may indicate challenges in maintaining tourist interest throughout the year. Arkansas’ tourism officials may need to adapt their strategies to boost visitor numbers and continue attracting tourists to the state’s rich cultural and natural offering
Michigan Suffers from Reduced Tourist Influx in 2025
Michigan’s tourism sector has taken a hit in 2025, with the total number of arrivals declining from 1.3 million in 2024 to 1.1 million in 2025. While the state did experience some peaks, such as in June with 110K visitors, this was still lower than the 166K recorded in the same month of 2024. The decline in tourist numbers is particularly noticeable in the first quarter, with January 2025 seeing only 61.0K visitors compared to 67.0K the previous year. February, March, and April also reflected a downturn, with numbers dropping sharply. These figures underscore a worrying trend that may require state tourism authorities to reconsider their strategies to revitalize Michigan’s appeal as a top tourist destination.
Indiana Faces a Small Decline in Tourism Arrivals in 2025
Indiana has experienced a slight decline in tourist arrivals in 2025, with total visitors reaching 24.2K for the year, compared to 25.4K in 2024. This drop is particularly visible in the first quarter, where January saw only 3.7K visitors, a reduction from 4.7K in January 2024. Similarly, February and March numbers showed a decrease, with February dropping from 4.7K to 4.3K and March seeing a slight dip from 3.4K in 2024 to 3.3K in 2025. Although June and July experienced some recovery, with visitor numbers rising to 2.0K and 2.4K respectively, the overall downward trend signals potential concerns for the state’s tourism industry. Indiana’s tourism authorities may need to rethink their strategies to address this decline and revitalize interest in the state.
North Dakota’s Struggles to Regain Tourists Amid Declining Trends
North Dakota’s tourism industry has faced a challenging year in 2025, with total visitor numbers falling to 1.3 million from 1.6 million in 2024. The state saw a sharp decline in tourist arrivals during the summer months, with June 2025 reaching only 110K visitors, compared to 166K in June of the previous year. Other months, such as January and February, have also shown a decline, further underscoring the challenges faced by tourism officials. This trend suggests a need for significant changes in how the state markets itself to potential tourists, with a focus on diversifying offerings and ensuring North Dakota regains its competitive edge in the regional tourism market.
New Mexico Experiences Tourist Arrival Setbacks in 2025
Tourism arrivals to New Mexico took a hit in 2025, with a noticeable drop in overall visitor numbers. The total for the year stands at 1.3 million, down from 1.6 million in 2024. The decrease in visitors was most significant in the first quarter, with January 2025 recording 98.9K visitors compared to 104K in the same month the previous year. Other months, including May and August, also reported fewer arrivals, with drops of more than 30K in some cases. These numbers are concerning for New Mexico’s tourism sector, as the state will likely need to reevaluate its strategies for attracting both domestic and international visitors to its rich cultural and natural landscapes.
Illinois Experiences a Slight Decline in Tourist Arrivals in 2025
Illinois has seen a minor decline in tourist arrivals in 2025, with total visitors reaching 6.7 million for the year, compared to 6.8 million in 2024. The decrease is particularly noticeable in several months, including February, where visitor numbers dropped from 415K in 2024 to 399K in 2025. Similarly, June experienced a drop from 743K in 2024 to 640K in 2025, and July saw a decline from 697K to 673K. Despite this overall reduction, the state continued to attract strong numbers, particularly in months like January and May, where visitor numbers remained steady. These trends suggest that while Illinois’ tourism sector has faced some setbacks, its diverse attractions and events continue to draw substantial numbers of visitors each year. However, state authorities may need to reassess their strategies to reverse this decline and maintain Illinois’ competitive position in the tourism market.
Decline in US Tourism Across Key States in 2025
- Nevada: Nevada experienced a 9.5% decline in tourism in 2025, with a significant drop in September as numbers fell from 1,056,000 in August to 956,000. This decline is typical as the state transitions into its off-peak months after the summer rush. Despite this, Nevada’s iconic attractions, such as Las Vegas, continue to maintain interest year-round.
- Illinois: In September 2025, Illinois saw a 6.2% drop in tourism, with numbers decreasing from 743,000 in August to 697,000. The decline is part of the usual seasonal slowdown, with the state remaining an attractive year-round destination thanks to its vibrant cultural offerings and natural beauty.
- Oregon: Oregon experienced an 8.6% decline in September 2025, with visitor numbers falling from 326,000 in August to 298,000. As the state entered the fall season, the typical post-summer slowdown was observed, although Oregon continues to be a sought-after destination for its beautiful landscapes and cultural experiences.
- Vermont: Vermont saw a 3.5% decrease in September 2025, with numbers dropping from 160,000 in August to 143,000. The slight decline is typical after the peak summer season. Vermont’s natural beauty continues to attract visitors, particularly for its serene landscapes and outdoor activities.
- Washington: In September 2025, Washington experienced a 20.7% drop in tourism, with numbers falling from 1.3 million in August to 958,000. This significant decline reflects the usual post-summer slowdown, but Washington remains a major tourist destination with its cultural and natural offerings.
- New Hampshire: New Hampshire saw a 9% decline in September 2025, with tourism dropping from 377,000 in September 2024 to 343,000 in 2025. The typical seasonal shift led to the decrease, but the state’s outdoor adventures and scenic beauty continue to attract visitors, especially in the fall.
- California: California experienced a 1.4% decline in tourist arrivals from January to September 2025, with some mid-year months like June and July showing noticeable decreases. Despite this, California remains a popular destination, with a strong tourism demand that is expected to pick up in the coming months.
- North Dakota: North Dakota saw an 18.8% decline in tourism in 2025, particularly during the summer and fall months. Factors such as reduced event tourism and shifting travel trends contributed to this drop, despite steady visitation in the earlier months.
- Florida: Florida experienced a 2.1% decrease in tourist arrivals in 2025. The state saw slight declines in the spring and late summer months but remains a leading travel destination with a strong year-round tourism presence.
- Texas: Texas experienced a marginal 0.6% drop in tourist arrivals in 2025. While most months had strong numbers, slight dips in the early months and summer contributed to the small decline, reflecting Texas’ consistent tourism demand.
- Ohio: Ohio recorded a 5.6% decline in tourism for 2025, with reduced travel in the first half of the year leading to this dip. However, Ohio’s cultural attractions and festivals continue to support its tourism resilience.
- New York: New York experienced a 7.2% decline in tourist arrivals in 2025. Although summer tourism remained strong, slowdowns in the earlier months and reduced late-season activity contributed to the overall decline, likely influenced by shifting international travel trends.
In 2025, New Mexico joined North Dakota, Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, and others in facing a successive decline in US tourism for ten consecutive months due to seasonal trends, economic shifts, and changing tourist preferences.
Conclusion
New Mexico joined North Dakota, Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, and others in facing a successive decline in US tourism for ten consecutive months in 2025. This decline was driven by seasonal trends, economic shifts, and changing tourist preferences, which led to fewer visitors during key months. However, these states continue to offer unique attractions, and their tourism industries are expected to recover as they adapt to new travel trends. The future remains optimistic, with these destinations working to attract tourists year-round.
North Dakota
Challengers declare victory after ND Supreme Court rules against Legislature’s attempt to alter term limits
BISMARCK — A constitutional ballot measure to amend the state’s term limits law as proposed by the Legislature will not appear on November’s ballot, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday, siding with petitioners who argued the Legislature exceeded its authority and violated the state constitution in proposing the changes.
“The people’s voice was heard,” Grand Forks County Commissioner Terry Bjerke said in reaction to the news.
Bjerke was a member of the sponsoring committee behind the successful 2022 effort to pass a term limits initiative, which amended the state constitution by capping legislative term limits to eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate. The amendment, which became article XV of the state constitution, also included a clause barring the Legislature from making constitutional changes to term limits.
During the 2025 session, however, lawmakers narrowly approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008, in which the legislature proposed Constitutional Measure 1, a ballot measure to amend the term limits language to allow legislators to decide in which chamber they want to serve their 16 years, and to repeal the clause limiting the legislative assembly’s authority to propose an amendment to alter or repeal term limits.
Bjerke and former Minot legislator Oley Larsen brought the lawsuit challenging the validity of the Legislature’s action in January, and the state Supreme Court
heard oral arguments in the case
this spring.
“Those term limits may only be altered by a measure proposed by the people rather than the Legislative Assembly. And yet a few years later, the Legislative Assembly is doing what they are prohibited from doing,” attorney Zachary Wallen argued on Bjerke and Larsen’s behalf.
Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune
The Legislature’s attorneys argued the clause prohibiting legislative proposals to alter the constitutional term limits language “infringes on our republican form of government” by “limiting the people’s ability to vote on amendments proposed by their elected officials.”
Justice Jon Jensen seemed skeptical of that argument during the April 2 hearing, questioning whether a second vote was appropriate.
“The public did speak on this. The public spoke on it when it passed the original constitutional amendment and they said, ‘Legislature, you don’t even get to propose a change.’ They have already spoken on it,” Jensen said. “You want a second shot, or a second bite at the apple, not a first one, a second.”
In Thursday’s ruling, all five justices sided with Bjerke and Larsen.
“We … conclude the Legislative Assembly’s adoption of S.C.R. 4008 violated N.D. Const. art. XV … and declare S.C.R. 4008 and Constitutional Measure 1 void … We enjoin the Secretary of State from placing Constitutional Measure 1 on the November 2026 general election ballot,” the ruling said.
Bjerke thanked the legal team that worked on behalf of their lawsuit, and said he was grateful the court reached the conclusion it did.
“I’m thrilled that what the people voted on and approved has been validated,” Bjerke said.
He added that the Legislature had “multiple opportunities” to address term limits prior to 2022’s initiated measure and chose not to, and gave a nod to the country’s coming milestone and the process by which voters expressed their support for term limits.
“We’ve lasted 250 years,” Bjerke said. “I have two words for those elected leaders who think they aren’t: everyone’s replaceable.”
North Dakota
Fargo woman convicted in North Dakota fraud case now faces charges in Minnesota: A deeper dive
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A North Dakota woman who was sentenced to 180 days in jail in Cass County for defrauding healthcare providers and Medicaid programs is now facing additional fraud charges in Minnesota.
Christine Marie Pryor, 55, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to theft by deception involving more than $50,000. She was sentenced to first serve 180 days with a 3-year sentence suspended. She received credit for 44 days already served.
Pryor was ordered to pay $82,584.78 in restitution to Southeast Human Services in Fargo, where she worked between 2018 and 2019.
How the scheme unfolded
According to court documents, Pryor worked at multiple healthcare facilities in North Dakota and Minnesota between 2018 and 2023, using the identities and credentials of three licensed professionals without their knowledge. She submitted fraudulent Capella University diplomas and transcripts to gain employment.
Investigators say Pryor admitted she searched state licensing websites for therapists who shared her first name, then used those therapists’ last names and license numbers when applying for jobs.
At Southeast Human Services, where she worked as a Licensed Addiction Counselor, Pryor earned $55,584.82 while providing therapy services to approximately 150 patients. She also opened her own counseling center, NIAM Brain Injury Center, in Fargo between 2020 and 2021, and worked at The Lotus Center in Moorhead, Minnesota, from 2021 to 2023.
Court documents say the three licensed professionals whose identities were used told investigators they had no knowledge of Pryor’s actions and did not give her permission to use their information.
Two additional charges against Pryor in North Dakota, unauthorized use of personal identifying information, were dismissed on motion of the state.
Additional charges in Minnesota
Pryor is also facing charges in Minnesota. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced on Tuesday charges against Pryor in Clay County District Court for six theft offenses and six identity theft offenses related to defrauding Minnesota’s Medicaid program of more than $150,000.
According to the Minnesota complaint, Pryor claimed to provide psychotherapy and alcohol and drug counseling services to Medicaid recipients despite having no license or credentials to do so. Prosecutors allege she used the credentials and identities of three licensed professionals while claiming to provide Medicaid-funded services to 169 clients.
The Minnesota charges were filed as part of National Health Care Fraud Takedown Day, a joint effort involving the Department of Justice and more than 40 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
NCAA Set to Change Unpopular Football Rule Just in Time for North Dakota State’s FBS Jump
North Dakota State playing in the FCS playoffs and College Football Playoff in back-to-back years? It’s likelier than you think.
That’s because on Wednesday, according to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, the NCAA Division I cabinet voted to repeal a rule that effectively barred teams transitioning from FCS to FBS from playing in postseason games in their first FBS seasons. The Bison are making that move along with Sacramento State in 2026.
The reported change has been a long time coming; the rule has hampered teams from immediate bowl eligibility for decades. Its good intentions of dissuading teams from rashly making the FCS-to-FBS leap have been rendered obsolete in recent years by the fact that programs generally arrive in FBS more prepared than ever before.
Consider the number of new FBS teams that have had to work within the provision in the past decade alone
That list includes: Liberty (home for the holidays at 6–6 in 2018), James Madison (8–3 in 2022 under coach Curt Cignetti, and barely able to play in a bowl at 11–1 in ’23 due to a lack of bowl-eligible teams), Jacksonville State (8–4 in ’23 before backing in like the Dukes), Missouri State (7–5 in 2025, also backed in) and Delaware (6–6 in ’25, ditto).
James Madison in particular became a cause célèbre in ’23 because it started the season 10-0, climbing as high as No. 18 in the AP Poll in mid-November. Then-Virginia attorney general Jason Miyares bandied about suing the NCAA before the Dukes lost 26–23 to Appalachian State, an event that caused the program to back off and accept a bid to play Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. James Madison lost that game 31–21, by which time Cignetti had left for Indiana.
There was a time when the FCS-to-FBS jump was an imposing one, and the NCAA did not want to incentivize making it lightly—not even a proud Florida A&M program could make a mid-2000s attempt at a jump stick. However, the Flames, Dukes and other teams have shown it’s not so great a climb for programs with the right resources and management.
Now the Bison and the Hornets stand to benefit.
How far can North Dakota State and Sacramento State go in the near term?
The Bison opened 12–0 last year before a shock loss to Illinois State in the FCS playoffs’ second round, so that question may answer itself. North Dakota State does not play a single Power 4 team—a potential strength-of-schedule albatross if it has designs on really surging. A potential roadblock: the fact that the Bison have to visit the Mountain West’s two favorites, UNLV (Oct. 10) and New Mexico (Oct. 24).
It’s a different story for the Hornets, a 7–5 squad a year ago whose move to the FBS is widely seen as a gamble on their growth potential. Sacramento State also does not play a major-conference team, but has a breakneck travel schedule ahead of it—the Hornets will visit Ypsilanti, Mich.; Bowling Green, Ohio; Muncie, Ind.; Mount Pleasant, Mich. and Honolulu. Combine that with a first-year coach—Oakland native and ex-MC Hammer choreographer Alonzo Carter—and it could be a long FBS debut in California’s capital.
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