Minnesota won't be the same as before: climate change forces the state to rethink winter tourism

The state of Minnesota, known for its harsh winters, is facing an increasingly palpable problem - record warm weather. This anomaly is forcing the state to rethink its tourism strategy, as high temperatures are detrimental to the winter sports industry.

In 2024, Minnesota is experiencing the warmest winter on record, which is having a negative impact on the livelihoods of those involved in winter sports. Residents of the state shared with ABC News their considerations regarding the tourism industry and the effects of climate change.

"Over time, we've been allocating more funds to our winter budget, but when we realized that the winter weather didn't arrive this year, we adjusted our advertising strategy slightly to focus on outdoor activities," said Explore Minnesota Executive Director Lauren Bennett-McGinty.

Due to the absence of snow, the Ice Festival and the dog sledding marathon have been canceled. Professional athletes like skier Jared Shumate are also experiencing the impacts of climate change.

"Events and training sessions have been canceled, postponed, or rescheduled due to the lack of snow or warm temperatures," he said.

Minnesota officials state that they are working to adapt to the new climate conditions and are becoming accustomed to unpredictable winter weather.

As previously reported by TravelWise, the cover of climate change, snow can still be seen even in Italy.