Western Nebraska Uses Placer.AI to Support Tourism in the Region
June 13, 2025
Tourism is Nebraska’s Sleeping Giant because it is the state’s third-largest economic industry. The Western part of the state is prime for tourism expansion because of its beautiful scenery and proximity to Colorado. In 2023, tourism was responsible for 730 jobs in Scotts Bluff County, with visitor spending reaching 61.5 million.
Scotts Bluff County is one of the leading tourism regions in Nebraska, but there’s still room to grow. This is why the Twin Cities Development Association (TCD) invested in Placer.AI to learn more about Western Nebraska’s visitors and how to better market to them.
“We are really excited about the partnership with TCD and the ability to use Placer.Ai to collect data on all things tourism for the City of Gering,” says Tina Worthman at Visit Gering. “From attractions to events, we can use that data to make future decisions.”
Learn more about Placer.Ai, how it works, and how it will help the tourism economy grow in Western Nebraska.
Placer.Ai Uses Location Intelligence to Populate Insights
Placer.Ai uses various tools to track foot traffic and better understand how people navigate Western Nebraska (amongst other parts of the world). While TCD recently started working with this software company and sharing the tools across municipalities, Worthman is excited about the analytics she will soon be able to review. Here are a few insights she expects to see:
- Where tourists are initially from.
- How long tourists stayed in the area and where they went after.
- The demographics of visitors who are attracted to the region.
- Where they stayed, where they ate, and what they were interested in.
These insights can be turned into actionable marketing plans to bring more visitors to Western Nebraska and keep them here longer. Visit Gering might identify target demographics that enjoy staying in the area or create campaigns to reach different audiences who haven’t fallen in love with Nebraska yet.
The important thing is that Worthman, and others who work with TCD to use Placer.Ai, will make data-driven decisions to guide their efforts.
Tourism is a Valuable Part of Economic Development
TCD supports the Gering Visitors Bureau and other communities in Western Nebraska that want to invest in tourism. First, the economic impacts of tourism are immediate. Tourists put money into the community, create jobs, and support your favorite businesses. They also contribute to the local tax base, creating a budget for services that support residents.
However, there are also secondary benefits to investing in tourism. Bringing people to Western Nebraska today can support the region's population in the future.
“When you create a community that residents enjoy living in, that excitement encourages tourism,” says Worthman. “When tourists see the wonderful communities in the area, they want to become residents. Eventually, they move here, create jobs, open new businesses, and support the community as a whole.”
Residents also benefit from tourism efforts from a quality of life perspective. They will have more events to attend, things to do, and opportunities to spend time with friends and neighbors. Tourism makes Western Nebraska a great place to visit and live.
“We’re an interesting small town on the cusp of some really cool things,” says Worthman. “We have history, culture, and outdoor recreation activities to enjoy.”
Placer.Ai can be Used Across Western Nebraska
TCD is excited to support its regional partners through the use of Placer.Ai tools. This organization supports more than just the Twin Cities, it is designed to help the entire Western Nebraska region. Insights, programs, and resources that support one town will have ripple effects that benefit others. When one community grows, others will grow alongside it.
“Our goal is to support the entire region, not just Scottsbluff and Gering,” says Jordan Diedrich, Executive Director of TCD. “If you have any questions about Placer.Ai, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to identify ways it might benefit your community.”
The insights gathered by Worthman can also be used across Western Nebraska. There’s so much natural beauty and welcoming towns in the region to support tourism growth. When we work together, we can showcase how wonderful this part of the United States really is.
Learn More About the Resources Offered by TCD
TCD has plenty of resources and tools to elevate the towns, businesses, and residents of Western Nebraska. Learn more about what we offer and how you can work with us. TCD has networking events, office space, and assistance developing your online presence. Whatever you need, TCD can help you get it or direct you to someone who can. We are stronger when we work together to grow Western Nebraska, so join us today.
