Minnesota Agencies

The council shall act to serve the broader interests of tourism in Minnesota by promoting activities that support, maintain, and expand Minnesota's domestic and international travel market, thereby generating increased visitor expenditures, tax revenue and employment.

In 2004 the Legislature established Explore Minnesota Tourism, which replaced the Office of Tourism. Along with creating this new office, they established the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council to advise the director of Explore Minnesota Tourism (see Laws of Minnesota 2004, chapter 171, section 9).

The Explore Minnesota Tourism Council was reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the council.

In 2023, the Legislature increased the number of members on the council (see Laws of Minn. 2023, chap. 33, sec. 6).

The council consists of up to 35 members appointed by the Governor, including the director of Explore Minnesota, who serves as chair; 14 representatives of statewide associations representing bed and breakfast establishments, golf, festivals and events, counties, convention and visitors bureaus, lodging, resorts, trails, campgrounds, restaurants, craft beverage establishments, chambers of commerce, chambers of commerce for underrepresented communities, and Tribal nations; one representative from each of the tourism marketing regions of the state; 10 representatives of the tourism business representing transportation, retail, travel agencies, tour operators, travel media, convention facilities, arts and culture, sports, outdoor recreation, and tourism business owners from underrepresented communities; one or more ex-officio non-voting members including at least one from the University of Minnesota Tourism Center; four legislators, two from each house, one each from the two largest political party caucuses in each house; and other persons, if any, as designated from time to time by the Governor.